[sws_toggle1 title="PR news"> Panasonic Corporation today announced its plans to begin the full-scale development of its Smart Home Energy Management System (SMARTHEMS™1) business on October 21, 2012 in Japan.
In addition to the energy creation-storage linked system for the home released in March 2012, it will also launch AiSEG™2, which is a core component of SMARTHEMS™, connecting the electrical equipment and home appliances in the system.
Against the backdrop of increasing awareness of environmental issues as well as concerns over the electricity supply since the Great East Japan Earthquake, energy saving measures for the home have become a pressing need in Japan.
It is expected that the HEMS market will grow rapidly due to subsidies from the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), set at a maximum of JP¥100,000, and smart house development expansion.
Being equipped with ECHONET Lite, SMARTHEMS™ not only visualizes the consumption of energy in the household, but can also control different types of home electrical equipment through the core component, AiSEG™.
Beginning in this autumn, Panasonic will gradually increase its lineup of products that can be linked through HEMS, including air conditioners, IH cooking equipment, and EcoCute3 heat pump hot water supply systems.
The power consumption measuring unit that can be linked to existing distribution panels and AiSEG™ are eligible for the subsidies for the "Introduction of Energy Management System (FY 2011Third Supplementary Budget)"4.
In order for SMARTHEMS™ to respond to future developments, such as changes in the electricity rating system, and enable the long term use of the system, firmware updates will be provided for the system via cloud computing service.
Going forward, the company will expand its functions to other business fields, not limited to HEMS. Panasonic will continue to improve and expand its home energy management system, SMARTHEMS™, to create, store, use energy efficiently and manage it smartly by linking home electrical equipment and home appliances.
Panasonic’s SMARTHEMS™ will continue to flexibly evolve in line with advances in lifestyle in the future to come.
1. Visualizes data of solar power generation systems, storage batteries, electricity, gas and water supplies (No monthly charge is required)
Electricity, water and gas consumption can be measured in real-time. For electricity, the monitor displays the status of current electricity and CO2 balance of the entire home, estimated electricity charges and power generation capacity by the solar power generation system or fuel cells. Different types of data, including the amount of charge of storage batteries, can be monitored not only with the dedicated monitor, but also on TVs, PCs, smartphone screens and other displays.
2. Automatically controls the operation of compatible equipment with ECHONET Lite, contributing to energy saving and a more comfortable life
AiSEG™ incorporates the ECHONET Lite protocol, enabling it to automatically control all compatible equipment.
In the future, Panasonic is planning to launch more AiSEG™-compatible equipment, including air conditioners, IH cooking equipment (KZ-R573SG) and EcoCute heat pump hot water supply systems (some products have been already launched).
As AiSEG™ efficiently controls each piece of equipment, it can support energy saving and contribute to the environment while maintaining comfort.
Eco mode setting automatically changes the air-conditioning temperature to an energy-saving temperature (28 degree Celsius for cooling and 20 degree Celsius for heating) in thirty minutes after the switch is turned on.
Notifies users of outdoor air temperature changes by displaying messages.
If the outdoor air temperature changes to below 28 degrees Celsius (for cooling) or above 20 degrees Celsius (for heating) during air conditioner operation, messages will be displayed on the screen.
This function is useful in preventing energy wastage in air conditioners.
[AiSEG™-compatible IH cooking equipment (KZ-R573SG) Linkage]
When the IH cooking equipment is turned on while a large amount of electricity is being used, AiSEG™ calculates the amount of electricity usable for the equipment in proportion to the overall electricity use in the home and automatically controls the IH heating.
[AiSEG™-compatible EcoCute Linkage]
If EcoCute runs short of hot water, AiSEG™ automatically heats and stores water by using the surplus electricity generated by the solar power generation system during the daytime. This clean electricity can be used efficiently thanks to the connection with AiSEG™.
3. Cloud computing service ensures compatibility with expanding product lines and offers adaptability to changes in the social landscape
The latest version of the firmware can be downloaded through the Panasonic server and used as part of a cloud computing service when the electricity rates or rating system are changed or new AiSEG™-compatible equipment is purchased.
The scope of compatible equipment will be expanded to include electric vehicle charging facilities, lighting, security systems and home appliances.
4. Other features
Air conditioners can be turned off by remote from outside the home through the internet and AiSEG™ via the Panasonic server, minimizing energy wasted when forgetting to turn off the air conditioning.
Through Wi-fi in the home, it is possible to control AiSEG™-compatible equipment, such as air conditioners, IH cooking equipment and EcoCute, with smartphones.
Through linking electrical equipment to the solar power generation system and storage batteries, it is possible to operate the minimum amount of electrical appliances necessary in power cuts or in times of emergency.
If a problem occurs with air conditioners or IH cooking equipment (KZ-R573SG), AiSEG™ downloads the electronic operation manual that corresponds with the displayed error code and displays it on the TV screen.
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