Analysis of Demand Side Management Products at Residential Sites: Case of Pacific Northwest U.S.

Abstract

This paper provides a quantitative approach to determine important product features that are to be included in smart thermostats. This approach is expected to help decision makers manage product design process by utilizing feedback from customer and expert focus groups. Proposed approach is also expected to help managers review competing products in the market and shape future product design specifications. Data used in the assessment model have been gathered by surveying 22 potential customers who have been living in residential areas, and a group of experts who have been working as product design engineers. Significant findings as well as weak points of the proposed approach have been discovered, and future work initiatives have been proposed.

Appendix

1.1 Explanations of Additional Features

• Integration with water control: Ability to control water consumption within the residential area for example; measuring the moisture in the earth and making decision to water the grass or not.

• Integration with home appliances: Ability to control the energy consumption of the home appliances within the residential areas for example; closing television when it is idle.

• Light control: Ability to manage lights in the house for example turning off the lights when there is no one in the room or turning on the lights when there is someone in the room.

• Fire control: Ability to control fire alarm system.

• Phone control: Ability to communicate with phone.

• Security control: Ability to communicate with alarm system.

• Mode control: Ability to set the device for specific conditions for example setting it to holiday mode when you are on vocation.

• Gas leakage control: Ability to detect gas leakage.

• PC control: Ability to communicate with PC and allowing users to reach their devices through their PC.

• In home display control: Ability to manage and communicate with video or audio systems within the residential places.

1.2 Focus Customer Group Survey

• 1. If you were to buy a smart grid device for your house which of these additional “Features” would be important to you? Please, rate the features on scale of 1: Least important-10: Most important

  Integration with water control
  Light control
  Phone control
  PC control
  In home display
  Integration with appliances
  Integration with renewables
  Fire control
  Security control
  Mode control
  Gas leakage control

• 2. If you were to buy a smart grid device for your house which of these “Interfaces” would be suitable to you? Please, rate the interfaces on scale of 1: Least suitable-10: Most suitable

  Website
  Cell phone
  Special device
  PC

• 3. If you were to buy a smart grid device for your house which of these “Connections” types would be suitable to you? Please, rate the connection types on scale of 1: Least suitable-10: Most suitable

  Internet
  SMS
  Mobile phone
  Telephone

• 4. If you were to buy a smart grid device for your house which of these “Ease of Use” items would be important to you? Please, rate the percentages according to information given.

  Ease of installation		Interface
  Ease of installation		Personalization
  Personalization		Interface

• 5. If you were to buy a smart grid device for your house which of these “Savings” items would be important to you? Please, rate the percentages according to information given.

  Energy efficiency

  Demand response savings

• 6. If you were to buy a smart grid device for your house which of these “Reliability” items would be important to you? Please, rate the percentages according to information given.

  Security

  Connection availability

• 7. If you were to buy a smart grid device for your house which of these “Cost” items would be important to you? Please, rate the percentages according to information given.

  Installation cost		Product cost
  Installation cost		Maintenance cost
  Product cost		Maintenance cost

• 8. Please, rate the percentage of items below in terms of their importance according to the information given.

Cost		Savings
Cost		Ease of use
Cost		Reliability
Cost		Features
Savings		Ease of use
Savings		System reliability
Savings		Features
Ease of use		Reliability
Ease of use		Features
Reliability		Features

1.3 Expert Evaluation Survey

• 9. Please, rate the percentages of buying specific product according to the information given.

Installation cost					Maintaining cost
ABC		Proliphix			ABC		Proliphix
ABC		Homeseer			ABC		Homeseer
ABC		Venstar			ABC		Venstar
ABC		Ecobee			ABC		Ecobee
Proliphix		Homeseer			Proliphix		Homeseer
Proliphix		Venstar			Proliphix		Venstar
Proliphix		Ecobee			Proliphix		Ecobee
Homeseer		Venstar			Homeseer		Venstar
Homeseer		Ecobee			Homeseer		Ecobee
Venstar		Ecobee			Venstar		Ecobee

Product cost					Energy efficiency
ABC		Proliphix			ABC		Proliphix
ABC		Homeseer			ABC		Homeseer
ABC		Venstar			ABC		Venstar
ABC		Ecobee			ABC		Ecobee
Proliphix		Homeseer			Proliphix		Homeseer
Proliphix		Venstar			Proliphix		Venstar
Proliphix		Ecobee			Proliphix		Ecobee
Homeseer		Venstar			Homeseer		Venstar
Homeseer		Ecobee			Homeseer		Ecobee
Venstar		Ecobee			Venstar		Ecobee

Demand response saving					Ease of installation
ABC		Proliphix			ABC		Proliphix
ABC		Homeseer			ABC		Homeseer
ABC		Venstar			ABC		Venstar
ABC		Ecobee			ABC		Ecobee
Proliphix		Homeseer			Proliphix		Homeseer
Proliphix		Venstar			Proliphix		Venstar
Proliphix		Ecobee			Proliphix		Ecobee
Homeseer		Venstar			Homeseer		Venstar
Homeseer		Ecobee			Homeseer		Ecobee
Venstar		Ecobee			Venstar		Ecobee