Consumers employ solar panels to generate their own energy. They also install smart meters that monitor and control the consumption of heating and cooling systems. Now they can monitor and manage the performance of their solar installation via a Web-based platform that employs a “smart thermostat” which hooks into those smart meters.  Result: One very smart system that does it all. 

The Smart Thermostat, known as Environ, comes from Enphase Energy, www.enphaseenergy.com. Environ employs ZigBee in order to communicate with the company’s microinverter system. This connection allows owners to control the indoor climate through a Web browser or smart phone, as well as directly with the wall-mounted thermostat. Moreover the same communication technology enables plug-and-play integration with smart energy devices, making the installation process a simple add-on to solar systems.

Paul Nahi, CEO, Enphase Energy, says, "This product introduction is a significant step toward a unified platform for businesses and homeowners to generate, monitor and control their own energy. Converging these elements into a single platform has the potential to both unite and expand the markets for solar, energy efficiency and smart homes, broadly accelerating the shift to a clean energy economy."

John Black, owner of Black Platinum Solar & Electric, says, "Our customers are always interested in ways to add to their solar system and further improve their energy profile. Environ helps us better serve our customers, while expanding the products we offer during the solar installation process." 

On another front, AT&T, www.att.com, and Petra Solar, www.petrasolar.com, have teamed up. Petra is a clean tech company that combines solar generation and smart grid technology in a single system. AT&T is continuing its effors in the connected space and this new agreement will allow the carrier to offer Petra Solar's technology, which allows utility companies to simultaneously address RPS (renewable portfolio standard) requirements when investing in smart grid technology. 

RPS is a regulation that requires the increased production of energy from renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal. Basically it places an obligation on electricity supply companies to produce a specified fraction of their electricity from renewable energy sources. Certified renewable energy generators earn certificates for every unit of electricity they produce and can sell these along with their electricity to supply companies.