The soaring cost of electricity has become a high profile issue, especially in NY and CA, with the most recent not so smooth transitions to a deregulated market.

On this wake-up call, and in view of the hanging threat of sharp price spikes over the next few years, residential and commercial kilowatt customers are seeking solutions to curb usage of electricity. This is becoming a more serious problem as it unfolds throughout the U.S.

A commercial business owner in Southern CA, utilizing several stores in a strip mall, is currently paying $2,500.00 per month for electricity. He/she is being warned of a 78% increase by 2002, which would put his/her costs at $4,450.00 per month. This considerable increase in overhead will spawn a definite increase in his/her products and services to customers. In order to remain competitive, a business owner will be forced to find solutions to save energy on a long term basis.

In the residential market, consumers will be looking for methods as well, to keep their monthly energy costs affordable.   Low income families will endure the most hardship.

What are the common denominators to be addressed in the process of saving, and not wasting, energy, whether residential or commercial? Let us take a common sense view.

The two basic criteria which emerge in energy saving are:

1.   Conservation

2.   Efficiency

The majority of all appliances and lighting in a home or business are electrical.

The HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) system can represent approximately 50 % of the energy costs.

Here is a list of typical applications  which can conserve a considerable amount of energy:

1.   Turn a light off when the room is not being used or when leaving the premises in a home or business.

2.   Rooms with concentrated multiple lights (e.g., bathroom vanity) can be dimmed  and still offer sufficient lighting.

3.   Dimming an outside light (e.g., porch light) at 10:00 P.M., versus leaving it on at full intensity all night.

4.   For an extended period away from home (vacation):

1. turn off electric hot water heater
2. cut power to "stand-by" power devices (e.g., VCR's, DVD's, TV's, Electric Toothbrushes, cordless phones. These devices are still consuming energy even though they are "off " in a stand-by mode.
3. Set thermostats to higher and lower set backs (e.g., 90 degrees for cooling, 55 degrees for heating.

5.   Cut power to the clothes iron, curling iron, or space heaters, when not in use.

6.   Utilize ceiling fans instead of the HVAC system to circulate air and save A/C costs.

7.   While premise is occupied, set thermostats to 76-78 degrees for cooling and 66-68 degrees for heating.

These are, by no means, all of the solutions which could be used to help solve rising energy costs, but they're a start. A more intense study of a particular premise could uncover many more.

As the Western Regional Manager for HAI (Home Automation, Inc), I am realizing a drastic increase in inquiries, by phone and email, from people looking for solutions to the current energy crisis. It is truly phenomenal the up-surge of traffic, on line, for a cost-effective system. 

HAI has been in business for 16 years and it's Omni Family of automation controllers offer the end user more than one way to skin the proverbial "energy cat." Included benefits with an Omni are peace of mind, and numerous conveniences. The above suggestions 1-7,  are just a few applications which can  all be accomplished when implementing an HAI Omni system.

Using an HAI Omni system, lights can be turned on, off, or dimmed with true automation integration ( when an event happens).  Each Omni system features a U.L. Listed security system. HAI thermostats (Omnistats) are Energy Star approved, and part of HUD's program, P.A.T.H. (Partnership for Advancing Technologies in Housing). Omnistats can be set to the previously mentioned energy saving settings automatically when the user is entering or exiting the home or business, or when sending the system a command to perform a specific function by telephone, console, PC, or via the Internet. The list is endless, it puts the user in control…..…and…….the cost effectiveness of these integrated technologies is very affordable for any size application. For the Techno-phobic, macros keep the technology invisible. Using the Omni system in a home or business, will actually pay for itself in a not so very long run. And, considering the deregulation of utilities across the country, it gives a whole new meaning to the popular phrase……………………….WATTS UP?