Imagine checking your smartphone or PC at work to see how much energy your home heater or air conditioner is using while you’re out. Then imagine resetting your appliances remotely to save energy and money. That’s the goal envisioned by Freescale Semiconductor (NYSE: FSL) in its partnership with a group of global companies that has formed the Energy@Home Consortium. Telecom Italia, ENEL, Electrolux and Indesit are the members of the Energy@Home Consortium, which has just announced a field test of its product in 100 homes in Italy.
A typical Energy@Home system includes an ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line) gateway with wireless connectivity using the ZigBee wireless protocol, which allows devices in the home to communicate and cooperate. (Freescale is a founding member of the Zigbee alliance.) The Energy@Home system also includes a smartphone or similar device connected to the electricity meter through a USB ZigBee dongle key, Zigbee-enabled appliances like refrigerators and washers, and smart plugs that allow these appliances to communicate with a home area network.
“Freescale is committed to providing solutions for energy management around the world,” said Bruno Baylac, director of Freescale’s Medical, Metering and Connectivity solutions division. Freescale makes the ZigBee transceiver (MC13226) in the energy gateway processing unit and the i.MX28 chip, which is the gateway’s application processor. Freescale is also helping the consortium in an advisory role.
