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Schneider Electric launches Square D-Connected home suite for North America

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Energy management and automation firm Schneider Electric has formally announced its entrance into the residential market on the show floor at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

Schneider says its residential solutions, Square D Connected Home, comprise devices and applications to help homeowners consolidate connected home, appliance and energy management into one intuitive digital experience. In addition, the company previewed a new collection of switches, dimmers, receptacles, plugs and sensors which will be available later in 2020 across the U.S, Canada and Mexico.

“The consumers’ relationship with electric power has traditionally been one-sided: your utility delivers it, you use it and you pay the bill,” said Manish Pant, executive vice-president of Home and Distribution at Schneider Electric, in a statement. “However, even with the rising number of connected home devices, energy management – perhaps the most critical for safety, control and sustainability – has yet to be thoughtfully addressed for the consumer. We believe it’s time to give consumers the needed digital tools to feel confident, safe and committed to using energy in ways that both enhance their day-to-day lives and reflect their values and ideals long into the future.”

According to Schneider, The Wiser Energy system, a connected home solution from Square D, helps educate consumers on the energy usage of devices across their home, including devices that are not “smart” or connected. It detects and identifies all appliances within the home and uses what Schneider describes as its grid-to-plug advantage to manage the flow of electric energy delivered from the electric grid to the devices and appliances plugged in at home.

Consumers can then use the Square D version of the Sense app or voice assistants including Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to digitally track energy usage, receive updates if the dryer cycle is still running, or get alerts if an appliance is malfunctioning or requires service. Schneider says this information allows homeowners to reduce the risk of potentially expensive energy bills, deliver protection and safety for their home, or, for those with alternate energy sources such as solar, control and manage how appliances leverage different energy sources.

Square D Energy Hub, works with Wiser and helps provide consumers and contractors with an enhanced automation and intelligent backup power experience for the home. The Energy Hub is designed to support critical loads during power outages, while also giving the homeowner the ability to dynamically adjust how backup power is delivered to their devices as needed.

Square D Wiring Devices, works with Wiser – Whether installed along with Wiser Energy or as stand-alone devices, Schneider says the consumer will be able to add overall control to the home, at the switch and outlet level. Consumers will be able to create scenes and scenarios that are activated via sensors, voice or app control. When paired with Wiser Energy the consumer will be able to adjust the energy use in the home by shutting off devices and reducing the electrical load.

Schneider Electric’s booth at CES is #41337 in the Sands Expo on Level 2 in Halls A-D.