Allyn Technology Group of Allyn is in the process of testing a ‘smart grid’ energy-saving device it has designed. The company is testing the device at several local locations, including the North Mason Chamber of Commerce.

One of the device’s functions is to profile the energy consumption of appliances in homes and business. In the chamber’s case, it is measuring the daily energy usage patterns of the chamber’s hot water heater. The data profile can be used to discover ways for the chamber to save energy and money.

Another function of the device is the ability to wirelessly turn appliances on and off. In practice, Mason County PUD 3 could remotely cycle the power to the chamber’s water heater, thereby lessening the demand placed on the utility and lowering the power bill. If the chamber decides that the timing is inconvenient for having the water heater off, it can override the device with the push of a button. On a larger scale, a PUD could, with the permission of participating homeowners, turn off all the water heaters in a neighborhood during a heat spell to save an area from a power blackout.

“It’s a smarter use of the power grid, and we’re glad to be part of the project,” says chamber CEO and President Frank Kenny. “We’re helping prove the concept… Millions of dollars could be saved by smartly controlling energy usage.”

According to Fred Barrett, Allyn Technology Group’s President & CEO, “The technology exists today for homeowners and businesses owners to take a proactive role in saving energy. People want to be green and given an opportunity, will almost always choose the environmentally friendly option. Our new device allows people to do the right thing and save money. It can even protect appliance from the power surge that can occur after a power outage.”

Allyn Technology Group (formerly Allyn Analytics) developed the device, called DCM-937 Wireless Demand Control Management Solution, when a utility posed the question of how to move energy consumption out of peak demand without the expense of a “smart meter” infrastructure. The device enables a utility to control an appliance with a specialized text messages over standard cellular telephone networks.

The company has been developing products for some time, but this is one of its first greener products. One of the company’s recent product-development jobs was to build a tracking system for shipping containers, in a project by the Department of Homeland Security to secure ports. Allyn Technology Group also offers Internet services, business intelligence and product marketing. For more information, see www.allyntech.com.