If You Can’t Be Off-Grid Then Live In A SmartGridCity
What is a Smart Grid City? It’s a new concept that is being built in Boulder, Colorado to make using conventional grid energy more efficient in it’s use and cost. it is probably best put by the chairman, president and CEO of Xcel Energy, Dick Kelly:
- “We’re on our way toward building the grid of the future and making SmartGridCity a reality. This is a forward-thinking project that will transform the way we do business. In SmartGridCity, our customers will have more information, including the tools to communicate directly with us, and will choose when and how they use their energy based on price, generating resource or convenience.”
The design phase completion was announced on May 15, 2008 and that the equipment needed has been ordered and construction has already started. Since the study done by the Smart Grid Consortium and Xcel Energy to develop a scope and design to implement this change was just completed this past April. To say this is on the fast track seems to be an understatement. Though as we American’s have shown time and time again when we are fired up bu something we can do it at an extremely efficient rate. If this planned project goes as well as expected then by December 2009 the city of Boulder will be adding renewable energy to it’s power sources as well as integrating plug-in hybrid cars for it’s citizens.
The idea to use the technology we have as well and push the envelope to lower consumption of the energy we have available on the grid is a great step to helping people become more involved in their energy choices. If everyone had the information about what the cost of plugging something in or turning it on would cost in both energy and cash then questioning the need for it could become second nature to everyone. How many times do people turn on lights in the middle of the day because shades haven’t been opened yet, or charging a mobile device when it’s not empty or longer then needed, or left lights on because they would be right back, or any of hundreds of little things that because we don’t see the cost at time of use we don’t always think about it.
Hoping for this to be a success for more then the city of Boulder should be anyones hope that wishes to change the way we treat energy. If a city can be taught to conserve and use wisely as a whole then us that are working towards that on our own can benefit, too. The technology to do this will be improved, price should become more realistic for the common person, and more information about problems and solutions will be available. Of course, that’s a best case scenerio and here at The Off-Grid Home that is what we all hope for.
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