iTrack: A residential energy monitoring system tailored to meet local needs

Abstract

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, like many other Gulf Council Countries, is lately experiencing a very rapid population and industrial growth, which results in an increasing demand for energy. To meet this growing demand, the GCC too is transitioning towards a smarter electricity grid with increased penetration of renewable sources. However, all agree that the success of such a shift in paradigm also depends on demand side management, most of energy demands coming for residential area. Providing residents with real-time feedback on their energy consumption is a promising way to promote energy saving behavior through an increased awareness. This paper outlines the design and development phases of a residential energy monitoring system that has been tailored to meet local needs, that is to say a non-intrusive system with a user friendly interface available both in English and Arabic endowed with an alert system providing real-time consumption information, as well as energy saving and awareness tips.