Inspiring Low Energy Lifestyles Through IoT

The IoT is a fast-evolving network of devices which have embedded technology and software allowing them to be interconnected via the internet and centrally controlled. Currently there are 15 billion connected devices across the world and due to consistent technological advancements, this number is predicted to grow to 50 billion by 2020[i]. At this growth rate, the IoT has the potential to become a revolution in modern day living, and Samsung is committed to being at the forefront of this growth.

“The Internet of Things has the potential to transform our society, economy and how we live our lives. It is our job to pull together—as an industry, and across different sectors—to make true on the promise of the Internet of Things”, Chief Executive BK Yoon said during a keynote speech at CES earlier this year.

Offering such an extensive product portfolio of consumer electronics and domestic appliances, Samsung provides the complete home experience to its customers. By 2020, all Samsung products will be IoT-enabled. As homes increasingly transform into smart homes, the range of appliances and home sensors which can enter into this interconnected network will be expanded through the further development of SmartThings[ii], Samsung’s recently acquired open IoT platform.

However, Samsung does not only deliver a technology-driven premium lifestyle of convenience at home to its customers. The company is also directing resources into providing customers the opportunity and the potential to turn their IoT-enabled smart home into a low energy hub.

“Home automation is an early area of adoption (of IoT) because of the potential to reduce energy costs, improve security and increase comfort,” Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research wrote[iii]. Research shows that the “IoT can help reduce home energy consumption by over 40 percent”[iv].

Environmental Innovation in Software and Hardware

ECOS, the Energy Cost Optimization Solution powered by Samsung, is designed to empower customers to use the SmartThings IoT platform to its full environmental potential. Homeowners will be able to use ECOS software to measure, plan and improve the services provided by an IoT home to program appliances to run during off-peak hours to reduce energy costs; use occupant sensors to control electrical and natural lighting; optimize heating, cooling and ventilation[v]; and use smart-meters to relay real-time energy data to find ways to cut down on wasted energy, among other limitless possibilities[vi]. Lighting, for example, when connected to occupant sensors, becomes smart and has the potential to reduce costs by up to 30 percent, according to EnergyStar[vii], and connected energy systems and smart metering promoted by IoT can save approximately £50 per month on utility bills[viii].

Customers will also be inspired by new advancements in hardware technology. At IFA 2015, the world’s leading trade show for consumer electronics, the Samsung EcoZone is showcasing products with high environmental credentials and reduced environmental impacts. These Samsung products have high energy efficiencies, eco-modes and energy-saving technology which will help customers aspire to use technology to accurately monitor and reduce their home energy consumption and provide them with a convenient, hassle-free way to live an IoT-enabled, low energy lifestyle.

In order to mitigate the impacts of increased device use through the IoT, Samsung has adapted hardware to achieve three major environmental advancements which will ensure the lowest potential environmental impact for customers.

Developing Low Energy Modes

In order for IoT products to constantly be connected, devices must remain on, or on standby mode. Therefore, Samsung has been developing devices with increasingly lower energy consumptions. Eco Sensors and energy saving modes on the latest LED TVs can use up to 51 percent less energy compared to 60-inch models in 2011 and the refrigerator digital inverter compressor adjusts to humidity levels and usage patterns to optimize cooling, providing 33 percent savings compared to 400-liter models in 2011.

Improving Product Energy Efficiency

Samsung has also been proactive in reducing the overall energy consumption of all its products. Since 2008, the entire product portfolio has improved its energy efficiency by 42 percent, allowing consumers to further reduce their energy costs[ix].

Managing Impacts

The expansion of the IoT open platform will spur the creation of new networks and devices. Therefore, in order to respond to the potential environmental impacts of increasing resource use, Samsung has invested a large amount of time researching and developing products that have lower resource consumption. For example, Samsung’s Ecobubble washing machines reduce water consumption by utilizing the latest speed wash setting which reduces washing time by half, thus reducing energy consumption. Additionally, the overall use of recycled plastics and recycled paper packaging has increased throughout the product range.

Samsung understands the importance of the environment to customers and the responsibility of a business to provide innovative environmental solutions in a modern world. Providing an open IoT platform will ensure that SmartThings continues to develop to facilitate these savings through both Samsung and its partners to provide technological inspiration to customers to lessen their environmental impact and empower them to live more responsible lifestyles.

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[i] Intel ©, ‘Intel IoT Gateways: Get Started’, available: https://www-ssl.intel.com/content/www/us/en/embedded/solutions/iot-gateway/overview.html

[ii] Samsung, ‘Smart Things Homepage’, available: http://www.samsung.com/uk/smartthings/

[iii] Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research, ‘The Internet of Things: Making sense of the next mega-trend’, available: http://www.goldmansachs.com/our-thinking/pages/internet-of-things/

[iv] Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research, ‘The Internet of Things: Making sense of the next mega-trend’, available: http://www.goldmansachs.com/our-thinking/pages/internet-of-things/

[v] For further information on IoT possibilities, see Carbon Trust, ‘The Internet of Things; a rising tide’, available: http://www.carbontrust.com/news/2014/05/the-internet-of-things-a-rising-tide

[vi] For further information on IoT possibilities, see Accenture, ‘Digital Business Era: Stretch Your Boundaries’, available: http://techtrends.accenture.com/us-en/business-technology-trends-report.html

[vii] EnergyStar, ‘Existing Buildings; Save Energy’, available: http://www.energystar.gov/buildings/facility-owners-and-managers/existing-buildings/save-energy/find-cost-effective-investments

[viii] For further information on IoT possibilities, see GSMA, ‘GSMA: The Impact of the Internet of Things. The Connected Home’, available: http://www.gsma.com/newsroom/wp-content/uploads/15625-Connected-Living-Report.pdf

[ix] Samsung, ‘Samsung Improves Product Power Efficiency by 42% in Six Years’, available: http://global.samsungtomorrow.com/infographic-samsung-improves-product-power-efficiency-by-42-in-six-years/