Home Energy Management (HEM) describes a class of technologies including sensors,
smart thermostats, and feedback devices seeking to manage residential energy consumption
profiles to reduce peak electric demand and consumers’ electric bills. A growing number of
HEM products and companies have emerged over the past decade, ranging from basic energy
displays to whole-home control systems and smart phone apps. The great diversity of HEM
product features and types is indicative of the nascent state of the HEM industry. Despite
research showing that HEM products providing feedback on electricity consumption can reduce
household electricity consumption by 4 to 12%, these products still face relatively low market
penetration. We discuss some of the challenges facing the industry, including barriers to
consumer adoption. We further present a taxonomy for residential HEM products with three
basic categories: Control Devices, User Interfaces, and Enabling Technologies. This taxonomy
provides a framework for future discussion about what areas of HEM have the most potential to
result in widespread deployment, consumer engagement, and energy savings in the future.