SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS


ELECTRIFICATION: THE ANSWER TO SUSTAINABLE HOMES?


Michael Lotfy Gierges, EVP Home & Distribution at Schneider Electric, examines why reimagining energy management in our houses is critical to bringing Net Zero home


Housing alone is already responsible for roughly a fifth of global emissions


A


ccording to the World Meteorological Organisation, the Northern Hemisphere


faced a ‘summer of extremes’. Throughout July, Southern Europe endured record-breaking +40˚C temperatures as deadly wildfires raged across Rhodes and Corfu, part of a heatwave strongly linked to human-caused climate change. The increasing regularity of such catastrophes has once again highlighted our urgent need to minimise carbon emissions and rethink how we generate and use energy. At the centre of this change are buildings, which contribute around 40% of all global emissions, and homes in particular. To boost building efficiency and regulation, the


European Commission has proposed that the worst-performing 15% of residential buildings in each country must be improved by 2030 and again by 2033. Plus, under the legislation, all new buildings should be zero- emission from 2028, with the total EU residential and building sector climate neutral by 2050. We can see that every


building across Europe and the world has an important role to play in our energy evolution. But why are homes so especially important? Let’s explore the impact of housing on the fight against climate change – and what people can do to start saving on energy bills and emissions today.


France suffer an average home heat loss over five hours of 3˚C, 2.9˚C, and 2.5˚C respectively. Meanwhile, electricity continues


to have a growing influence over our lives. More gadgets and digital tools are seeping into our homes; and electrified appliances are increasingly preferred over fossil fuel alternatives, like gas stoves, due to greater energy performance. It’s no wonder that, by 2050, homes are expected to be the largest consumers of electricity across any sector. Reimagining housing’s energy management is therefore critical. But this doesn’t necessarily mean making dramatic changes so that our homes resemble the interiors of a spaceship. Instead, we can make small adjustments that make our energy use far smarter, cheaper and more efficient. But to be successful, we need a clear path to follow.


“From


locating our biggest energy loads to


uncovering hidden areas of energy waste, we can use tools like home energy management solutions (HEMS) to act as the ‘brains’ of our homes”


INTRODUCING ELECTRICITY 4.0 Electricity is the most efficient form of energy and the best way to achieve decarbonisation. The answer to today’s sustainability challenges is powering homes with electricity, produced by renewable sources, underpinned by digital technology that helps to visualise, manage, and optimise consumption. This clean electrification


and digitisation form the fastest route to Net Zero – a process we call ‘Electricity 4.0’. People often feel powerless in the


fight against climate change. “How can I


BRINGING NET ZERO HOME Housing alone is already responsible for roughly a fifth of global emissions, exacerbated by deep inefficiencies that make us waste considerable amounts of energy. For instance, poor insulation sees houses in countries like the UK, Belgium and


www.essmag.co.uk


make a positive difference?” Powering homes with greater electrification, increasingly from renewable sources, supported by digital efficiency in new builds and retrofits, will make a significant contribution to the fight against climate change. Plus, the global energy crisis means it’s even more in our interest to change how we use


energy. Rising utility bills and tackling climate change are two sides of the same coin – by minimising our energy consumption, we’ll save both money and the planet. The process begins with truly understanding where and how we use energy at home.


HOME ENERGY MANAGEMENT From locating our biggest energy loads to uncovering hidden areas of energy waste, we can use tools like home energy management solutions (HEMS) to act as the ‘brains’ of our homes. They can automate our energy production, storage and control, and help us to reduce electricity bills by managing our usage, all while keeping us comfortable and energy secure. Today’s most advanced HEMS are often powered


by artificial intelligence (AI). Alongside providing homeowners with the insights to maximise comfort and convenience, they can ensure that the home always pulls from the most efficient energy source based on current generation, battery charge level, and utility rate plan, even sourcing alternative rates and utility rebates. Plus, systems will automatically switch to backup energy sources when grid power is lost, with high-performance inverter surge ratings. They’ll shed non-essential loads, ensure maximum backup resiliency, and provide flexibility for device power prioritisation. HEMS even pave the way for prosumerism –


the idea that we can produce and use our own clean energy, without relying on volatile outside providers, and can sell excess energy back to the grid for a profit. It’s clear, then, that investment in home and


building energy management solutions and the adoption of digital efficiency is the two-pronged solution to today’s concurrent energy and climate crisis. We truly have the power to make a positive impact – and it can all be done from the comfort of our sofas and the palms of our hands. So, let’s get started!


Schneider Electric www.se.com/uk/en


ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Autumn 2023 13


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