The future of managing household energy systems may be as close as your fingertips. Those same fingers also may soon monitor home security systems and healthcare systems with a new system developed by Celerity Systems, Inc., Knoxville, Tenn. and the Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio. The system will enable the user-utilizing a television and remote control or a wireless keyboard-to monitor home energy use, compare it to past periods, and control virtually any electrical device in the home.

The system also offers significant benefits for energy companies. The utilities will be able to remotely read meters, as well as send and receive messages and control signals within the household. This provides opportunities to the utility and the customer to save money and energy by shifting usage from peak periods to off peak. This is critical since power usage during peak periods often approaches 100 percent of power generation capabilities in many regions of the country.

As the system develops, a user will be able to perform other automation tasks, including the monitoring of security and health-care systems. The monitoring and control is conducted with software developed by Celerity and Battelle, and through a T-6000 digital set top box, designed by Celerity.

The monitoring system uses regular household wiring and requires no modifications to existing wiring systems. The new capabilities can potentially save the average homeowner $15 to $25 a month on their electric bill. The first commercial application of the new system is scheduled to take place this spring in Hopkinsville, Kentucky for the Hopkinsville Electric Service.

The companies intend to cooperate in the marketing of the system, and intend to continue to work on future technical development, adding new features and functions.

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