Energy Optimization Technologies in Smart Homes

Energy optimization in the built environment is receiving more attention in the last decade. This leads to remarkable technological advancements in energy monitoring, data communication, energy storage, control, and data analysis applications. Energy monitoring can be aggregate (Non-Intrusive load monitoring -NILM) or disaggregate (Intrusive load monitoring -ILM) based on the location in which the monitoring takes place. Sensors communicate via wired or wireless means, and several protocols are developed to support communications in smart homes. This real-time data can be sent to remote controllers for further analysis, training and prediction applications using Internet of Things (IoT) that provides a cost-effective solution for energy management systems. This manuscript presents an overview of current innovation in smart homes for the advancement of building technology.