One of the revolutions taking place in software and device technology is what is sometimes referred to as the “Internet of things”.

This revolution combines low cost chipsets with software intelligence that enable making very cost effective devices and sensors that can be directly connected to the Internet via communications technologies such as Bluetooth LE (Low Energy) and Zigbee, among others.

One of the results of the Internet of Things is the ability for these devices to gather and assemble an enormous amount of real-time data. In the realm of energy, this can be a boon to understanding energy usage in both home and commercial settings based on weather changes, time of day, occupancy, efficiency and reach of the HVAC systems, and a host of other factors. The collection of this data can then be structured, aggregated, and analyzed to create a variety of solutions for more effective energy management.