DREAM Team Publications

In order to eliminate the need for new costly power plants, the State of California is exploring a new source of electricity savings: the reduction of peak demand. Measures to reduce the peak demand for electricity are termed 'demand response' (DR). As part of the effort to increase demand responsiveness, the California Energy Commission is currently constructing a new policy to require DR-enabled thermostats for new residential construction in California.

Before demand-response systems can be effectively deployed on a wide scale in the residential sector, several issues must be resolved. One group of the DRETD team is working on the infrastructure of communications (Prof. Paul Wright, Prof. Jan Rabaey). Another group is developing metering infrastructure (Prof. Richard White), and yet another group is working on energy scavenging (Prof. Paul Wright). The DRETD Thermostat and Controls Group (Prof. Dave Auslander, Prof. Edward Arens) is developing controls: a demand response thermostat. This low-cost demand-responsive electrical appliance manager (DREAM) exploits wireless technology and a system of learning (both by machine and occupant). DREAM automatically responds to price signals so that the homeowner is not forced to be a "day trader" in electricity. It accepts the homeowner's preferences for cost versus comfort. This "thermostat" controls other appliances in the house, such as electric water heaters, refrigerators, pool pumps, and lights in response to price signals from the utility.

This website describes the hardware and software developed to test this system.