Smart Neighbourhood initiative unveiled in Atlanta
Source: Smart Cities World | July 29, 2019
Georgia Power and PulteGroup have announced the opening of Atlanta’s first Smart Neighbourhood initiative.
Townhouses at the Altus at the Quarter development, located in Atlanta’s Upper West Side, will be used for the research project.
Technology-enhanced dwellings
Each of the first 46 technology-enhanced dwellings built will be served by Georgia Power and supplemented by rooftop solar installations and in-home battery energy storage.
“The Smart Neighbourhood will allow Georgia Power to continue to be at the forefront in offering innovative solutions that help our customers more efficiently manage their energy usage,” said Paul Bowers, chairman, president and CEO for Georgia Power.
“The research, insights and learnings we receive from these homes will help us better understand the interactions between rooftop solar, in-home battery storage, energy efficiency measures and our electric grid – maximising the value of renewable energy and shaping how we grow our smart home offerings for customers.”
With the additional insulation and rooftop solar, the homes will have a home energy rating system (HERS) score in the high 30s compared to the average HERS score of high 70s for single family homes built in 2017.
"Research will help us better understand the interactions between rooftop solar, in-home battery storage, energy efficiency measures and our electric grid"
“In developing Atlanta’s first Smart Neighbourhood, we are further demonstrating our commitment to product innovation and sustainable building practices,” added Ryan Marshall, president and chief executive, PulteGroup.
“This partnership with Georgia Power provides us with a unique opportunity to introduce innovative solutions that create lasting benefits for homeowners and the environment.”
Georgia Power is also collaborating with Southern Company research and development organisation to better understand the integration between rooftop solar, in-home battery storage and the traditional electric grid as well as how homeowners interact with their connected devices and high efficiency technologies.
The project’s additional research partners include the US Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory which developed the Smart Neighbourhood’s home energy optimisation platform. The platform aims to intelligently schedule each homes’ major appliances, in coordination with solar and batteries, to minimise cost while optimising each homeowner’s comfort.
Additionally, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is providing design guidance, data analysis and final reports for the project.