Control4 plans app store for energy display

Bangalore: In an attempt to improve the sales of its home energy systems, Control4 is planning to go the iPhone way by designing a device with a dedicated app store. The home automation firm has developed a Flash-based software developer's kit for its EMS 100 home energy management display and the Advantage software that runs on it, reports CNET.

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The EMS 100 is a small touch-screen display that provides details on electricity use and gives consumers a way to program Zibee-enabled devices, such as a thermostat, lights, or an appliance connected to a wireless plug. It's one of several home energy managements displays being developed, some of which will be rolled out through utilities. With the Control4 system, people can participate in utility-run demand response programs to lower electricity during peak times.

On the back end, Control4 has written its software so utilities can manage these demand response programs. When added together, these "peak shaving" programs have the potential to save a significant amount of energy. California has 15 to 20 days a year when its demand exceeds its capacity, so these programs, either with businesses or consumers, can prevent the need to build new power plants.