Georgia Power’s “Smart Neighborhood” development in Atlanta, first announced in March 2018, held its ribbon-cutting yesterday. The 46-townhome neighborhood includes solar+storage installations, smart home security options and additional smart home devices. Representatives from Georgia Power, PulteGroup, LG Chem, Delta Electronics, ecobee and Vivint Smart Home were on hand for the unveiling.
Each home is equipped with rooftop solar panels and two home battery systems from LG Chem. The latest residential energy technologies will deliver innovative and creative solutions to Georgia Power’s customers to more efficiently manage their energy needs.
“The innovative Smart Neighborhood project will validate how forward-thinking energy suppliers can use today’s commercially available technologies to meet the changing needs of their customers, paving the way for tomorrow’s smart homes,” said Linh Tran, Director of Sales, Home Battery, LG Chem, “Georgia Power and PulteGroup are to be applauded for their leadership in this initiative. We are honored to be one of their partners in this groundbreaking project.”
The homes will feature Pulte’s Hutton and Summerford floor plans. The four-story townhomes span 2,800+ sq. ft. and feature three to four bedrooms and a two-car garage. They will be equipped with the latest energy technologies such as optimal insulation for maximum efficiency, advanced heating and cooling systems, LED lighting, electric vehicle chargers and home automation featuring smart thermostats, smart locks, smart light switches, smart outlets, outdoor cameras and voice control. 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.
“In developing Atlanta’s first Smart Neighborhood, we are further demonstrating our commitment to product innovation and sustainable building practices,” said PulteGroup President and Chief Executive Officer Ryan Marshall. “This partnership with Georgia Power provides us with a unique opportunity to introduce innovative solutions that create lasting benefits for homeowners and the environment.”
Main features in the Georgia Power Smart Neighborhood home include:
Energy Efficiency
- Mini Split, Lennox – This HVAC system features high efficiency heating and cooling for the top level in Smart Neighborhood homes.
- Puck, Flair – This smart thermostat integrates with the mini split to easily adjust the temperature of the top level of the homes.
- Water Heater, A. O. Smith – The Voltex heat pump water heater will be able to connect to the homeowner’s energy management platform to be used as a thermal energy storage device.
Home Automation
- Home Control Panel, Vivint Smart Home – The panel lets you control many of the connected products in a Smart Neighborhood home, including arming and disarming the security system, all from one convenient touchscreen.
- ecobee4 Thermostat, ecobee – This smart thermostat will ensure Smart Neighborhood residents are comfortable in their homes. With room sensors, homeowners can manage hot or cold spots, and with built-in Amazon Alexa Voice Service, homeowners can even ask it to order groceries or read the news.
- Video Doorbell, Vivint Smart Home – The video doorbell alerts you to visitors and lets you see and speak with anyone at your door from anywhere.
- Smart Locks, Vivint Smart Home – Smart locks can automatically lock up at night or when you leave and let you give keyless access to family and guests.
- Smart Shades, Lutron – Smart shades are located throughout the entire second floor in the home and can be raised or lowered via phone or voice control.
- Smart Outlets, Vivint Smart Home – Smart outlets allow you to remotely control and schedule your outlets from anywhere for added convenience and energy savings.
Battery Storage
- Battery Energy Storage System, LG Chem – The two in-home battery storage systems store electric energy for later consumption, giving Smart Neighborhood homeowners additional peace of mind with a reliable and safe source of backup power.
- Battery and Solar Controller, Delta Electronics – The controller platform will enable the LG Chem battery energy storage system by forecasting and scheduling operations to automate energy bill savings.
- Solar Panels, installed by Hannah Solar – The rooftop solar panels will supplement the grid to power the homes. The panels will produce approximately one-third of the homeowner’s annual energy usage.
Georgia Power is also collaborating with Southern Company Research and Development (R&D) 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 U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, who developed the Smart Neighborhood’s home energy optimization platform to intelligently schedule each homes’ major appliances, in coordination with solar and batteries, to minimize cost while optimizing each homeowner’s comfort. Additionally, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is providing design guidance, data analysis and final reports for the Smart Neighborhood project.
News item from Georgia Power
Dave Thomas says
Hi Kelly!
I live in Northwest Atlanta and am working as a co-founder on a technology called JPods (www.jpods.com). We are actively working with the GA Governor, the mayors and staff of Atlanta, Hapeville, and College Park, and the GM and staff of Hartsfield-Jackson to make Atlanta the first city in the world to build and implement solar mobility technology. If we are successful, we will not only help solve traffic issues but also create a massive solar production / training hub. I’d love to connect.
Dave Thomas, Director of Deployment
http://www.jpods.com
http://www.georgiamobilitycompany.com