Jessica Cheam, Straits Times 13 Dec 09;
Copenhagen: The principles behind making�a home�green are not rocket science. Turning off the power mains, using sustainable materials and furniture, installing energy-efficient applian-ces, and recycling as much as possible are but some fundamental rules to follow.
In the near future, however, green homes will be ultra-smart, enabling households to save as much as 30 per cent in energy bills, said Mr Martin Manniche, chairman and chief technology officer of Singapore-based GreenWave Reality.
In that future, smart software will determine exactly how much energy each household appliance is using and when an appliance is getting old and starts using more energy than usual.
A computerised home energy system will automatically charge appliances during off-peak periods, when energy is cheaper.
Such innovations and more were discussed during a forum last week at the Smart Green Home Symposium in Copenhagen.
The impact of a smart green home system on a country's reduction of emissions is profound, said Mr Manniche. Households contribute about 30 per cent to an average country's emissions.
And Singapore has caught on.�
Chairman of A*Star's Science and Engineering Research Council, Mr Charles Zukoski, told The Sunday Times that the agency is driving research into such technologies and working with companies such as GreenWave on commercialisation.
'The potential for energy saving is huge, and Singapore will be able to reduce its carbon footprint. A lot of policies have been put in place to pursue this,' said Mr Zukoski, who also spoke at the forum.
Trials of GreenWave's smart home systems are set to reach Singapore next June, under the the Energy Market Authority's multi
million-dollar test-bedding project to build Singapore's first smart grid.
GreenWave, which originated in Denmark, is a partner under the scheme, and Mr Manniche is optimistic of its success in Singapore.
'Singapore's strong IT and grid infrastructure makes it ideal to test this out, Singaporeans also love their gadgets and are tech-savvy, I think they will catch on,' he said.
