EcoFactor Brings Energy Efficiency Home
Whether it’s recycling, carpooling, or buying sustainable products, most of us are trying in one way or one another to be more environmentally friendly these days. While some of these are no-brainers, others – like reducing energy usage – often require more expertise and insight than the average consumer has. Given that simply heating and cooling the home amounts to nearly 50 percent of the average household’s total energy spend, eco-conscious consumers have a two-fold interest in reducing their energy consumption in this area.
Now, thanks to LaunchSquad client EcoFactor, the guesswork is being taken out of energy reduction as it relates to heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC). EcoFactor, which officially launched last week after more than three years of research and development , provides a Web-based residential energy management solution for homeowners. EcoFactor creates a “thermal blueprint” of each individual home that takes into account things like outside weather, the physical characteristics of the home, and home owner preferences in order to develop a customized heating and cooling strategy.
Unlike the other energy solutions on the market – like the “Energy Saver” mode on some thermostats – EcoFactor’s solution takes a personalized approach to energy reduction, rather than following a one-size-fits-all model. The result? An HVAC auto-pilot that operates like your car’s cruise control to optimize energy usage and deliver savings of up to $300 per year for the average homeowner.
EcoFactor’s launch and the announcement of its first customer, Texas utility Oncor, generated significant buzz in the clean tech space, and was featured everywhere from The New York Times to CNET to Earth2Tech and Fast Company. Next up, the company will vie for the National Clean Tech Open award at the CTO gala on November 17 as a regional finalist in the Smart Power category.