The Sense app has been updated so that homeowners can be aware of "when the electricity coming into their home is cleanest or dirtiest and take steps to minimize carbon emissions." The new feature offers a look into carbon intensity (CI) so that users can get a sense of when carbon emissions will be the lowest. The app lets users track their household carbon usage in real-time, as well as view a carbon intensity forecast over time so that high-energy tasks can be planned accordingly.
Carbon intensity, which varies throughout the day, is defined by the amount of carbon dioxide emitted to generate a specific unit of power. It's estimated that the average carbon intensity across the country's utility grid is approximately one lb/kWh, or about the CI equivalent of natural gas.
Carbon-Reducing Apps
The Sense App Helps Homeowners Reduce Their Home's Carbon Footprint
Trend Themes
1. Carbon Intensity Tracking - Tools and apps like Sense that allow homeowners to monitor and manage their household carbon footprints in real-time and adjust their energy consumption accordingly are becoming increasingly popular and sought after.
2. Clean Energy Optimization - The growing focus on reducing carbon emissions is fueling the development of new technologies and products aimed at optimizing the use of clean energy sources and shifting away from fossil fuels.
3. Real-time Energy Management - Apps and platforms that offer real-time monitoring and management of household energy usage are disrupting the traditional utility and energy industries by empowering consumers to take more control over their energy consumption and reduce costs and emissions.
Industry Implications
1. Energy Management - Energy management companies could leverage the growing demand for carbon intensity tracking tools and apps to expand their product offerings and appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.
2. Renewable Energy - Renewable energy providers can benefit from the trend towards clean energy optimization by investing in new technologies and expanding their infrastructure to provide more reliable, affordable and sustainable energy.
3. Smart Home - The smart home industry is poised to benefit from the rise of real-time energy management tools and apps like Sense by integrating these technologies into their product lines and offering more advanced and personalized energy management solutions to homeowners.