Panasonic: Smart homes are key to an energy-efficient Japan

Following its release earlier this year of a system that links energy creation and storage for the home, Panasonic is moving ahead with plans to develop a full-scale Smart Home Energy Management System (SMARTHEMS).

Energy-saving efforts in Japan have taken on a growing urgency in Japan in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake and increasing concerns about the environment.

Panasonic’s SMARTHEMS business, which will formally launch on Oct. 21, 2012, is aimed at helping people visualize their household energy consumption. It will also add a new component called AiSEG, which will connect electrical equipment and home appliances for smarter home energy control.

Panasonic expects to gradually increase its lineup of products that can be linked through HEMs, including air-conditioners, induction-heating cooking equipment and heat pump-based hot water supply systems.

Firmware updates for SMARTHEMS will be provided via cloud computing to enable the system to respond to future developments, such as changes in the electricity rating system.