Sustainably Built, Energy-Efficient Homes Depend on a Smarter Power Grid

Why a transformation of the U.S. power grid system should matter to every homeowner

The obvious and growing consequences of climate change are breaking up the status quo of the nation’s power grid that keeps our homes running safely and comfortably. And they’re leading to considerations like micro grids that rely to a greater extent on renewable energy sources, and moving toward a Smart Grid System. Innovators are now moving into the marketplace and offering ways to bring power closer to the points of use as well as developing storage systems for renewable power sources such as solar and wind. We are moving toward a more nimble, flexible grid that does more of what we need and want.

Whether you live in a house or apartment building, or are planning to build a new home, a smarter grid system will help us all become better stewards of our resources and our planet

Since our original blog — The Grid 101, posted March 5, 2018—the U.S. Department of Energy released the 2020 Smart Grid System Report. Quoting from a synopsis dated May 2022:

“The report conveys the status of smart grid deployments across the Nation, the capabilities they provide, and the challenges remaining as we move forward to modernizing the electric grid. The report examines technological and institutional trends and related deployment challenges with key findings and recommendations that include:

• A variety of distributed energy resources, often not owned by the utility, shifts the operational paradigm from one of control to one of control and coordination;
• Grid modernization is an essential component of an integrated planning process;
• A whole-systems approach to resilience planning is needed to inform smart grid investments;
• Managing cyber risks is key to enabling the smart grid; and
• Achieving plug-and-play interoperability will remain a challenging and long-term task.

As the grid evolves, we will need to build out an electric platform that will ensure an ability to improve aspects such as resilience, security, efficiency, and affordability while addressing uncertainty for future technological options and changing customer preferences and policies.”

In the meantime, focus on reducing your home’s energy demands to lower your carbon footprint

Progress toward a better functioning grid system is underway, but many challenges remain. Regardless of the grid’s current condition, one thing we can all do is reduce the amount of energy we consume in our homes. As more power is being generated by renewable resources in our area through Central Coast Community Energy, beginning your switch to using electric appliances and mechanical systems in your home is another good step. Regardless of where the power comes from, reducing the amount we consume is important not only to the environment, but to your health and your wallet.

Designing, building and remodeling homes for greater energy efficiency

Carmel Building & Design has a history of building homes that require significantly less energy and incorporate renewable energy sources such as photovoltaic panels. We’ve invested in training and technologies that help us achieve design/build standards such as those of Passive House that can reduce a home’s energy demand by around 75% to 90% compared to conventionally built homes.
If you have questions or want more information on working with Camel Building & Design, feel free to contact us using our convenient form or email us at info@carmelbuilding.com.