GE developing smart appliances: the future just got a bit less interesting

You know, the future used to be so much cooler before we gave up on our dreams of flying cars. Now instead of powering jet engines, it looks like our automobiles will power household appliances, and household appliances will use technologies like GE's SmartMeter to communicate with the local power grid. This could lead to such sexy contrivances as refrigerators that wait until off-peak hours to run the automatic defrost cycle, and (in coordination with tiered pricing for electricity and some new energy storage options) a bit of relief from the old fossil fuels. Maybe this is not exactly the stuff of William Gibson novels, but to hear more about "Energy Management Enabled Appliances" go ahead and hit that read link.

[Nick @ Oct 30th 2008 7:38PM]

"This could lead to such sexy contrivances as refrigerators that wait until off-peak hours to run the automatic defrost cycle"

Yeah, 'cause a $2 clock/timer added to an existing fridge couldn't do the same thing.

[jimmyfinch @ Oct 30th 2008 8:00PM]

How exactly would you use a $2 timer to control the Auto-Defrost?
Do you think you can use it to set when your whole appliance turns on and off, like a TV, or lights when you go on vacation?
I like food poisoning as much as the next guy, but .....

[ryan @ Oct 30th 2008 8:21PM]

How do you expect the timer to know when the grid is under peak load? It doesn't necessarily happen at the same time each day. I'd imagine it's closely tied to the weather/time of year/etc.

[tiago @ Oct 30th 2008 8:33PM]

can't you considerer 2:00 AM till 6:00 AM as off-peak hours?

[tiago @ Oct 30th 2008 8:39PM]

can't you considerer 2:00 AM till 6:00 AM as off-peak hours?

[tiago @ Oct 30th 2008 8:40PM]

engadget reply system: I hate you!

[ryan @ Oct 30th 2008 9:14PM]

@tiago

A refrigerator needs to defrost more often than once a day. Plus, for something like a washing machine, this technology can delay the start of a wash cycle until energy demand decreases. You don't want to wait until the middle of the night.

[Boards of Canada @ Oct 30th 2008 7:42PM]

Maybe its make the future less interesting but without energy saving there is chance there will be no future at all... Way to go GE! I personnaly find strategies for human survival on earth highly interesting!

[you @ Oct 30th 2008 7:58PM]

if everything starts running during off-peak hours will it still be off-peak?

[Lowest Ranked @ Oct 30th 2008 8:11PM]

Thank You!

[BJ is Gooder @ Oct 30th 2008 8:09PM]

I'm trying to find the part where this is engadget-worthy...still nothing.

Of course if I was as gung-ho as BoC up there, maybe a auto-defrost refrigerator would be interesting. (un?)Fortunately, I'm not on the Goracle's payroll.

[ryan @ Oct 30th 2008 8:23PM]

I actually work for GE Appliances and the gadget is the method of interaction with the grid. It will require specialized hardware on the fridge end as well as the power company end. The technology is similar to broadband over power lines (BPL).

[Boards of Canada @ Oct 31st 2008 5:00AM]

hello!

Goracle! cool word... I didnt know. I dont know... I was an avid Sci-fi reader when I was a kid and being a sensitive human I dont love pollution... just like I dont like leaving mess im my kitchen. Kids and teenagers are dirty. Adult are clean. I believe humanity some day will find maturity and stop mixing melamine with food.

[BobFromVegas @ Oct 30th 2008 8:17PM]

Iphone.

[tiagoclaus @ Oct 30th 2008 8:26PM]

It is kinda late to be disappointed.

[tiago @ Oct 30th 2008 8:27PM]

"Errors:

You must provdie an E-Mail!"

excellent engadget!

[Glen @ Oct 30th 2008 8:43PM]

We should try to strive for higher goals than such eco-left backward ideas. One asteroid hit and this whole civilization (and its conceit to have any impact on earth) is useless. Go flying cars, go settle mars! :-)

[nikster @ Oct 30th 2008 8:48PM]

I'd be much more interested in those Einstein-Fridges that don't use any power.

[ryan @ Oct 30th 2008 9:15PM]

Einstein fridges use power, but they are solid-state.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstein_refrigerator

[BigTeebo @ Oct 30th 2008 9:41PM]

I would be happy with a fridge that doesn't kick in the precise moment I try to sleep.

[Justin @ Oct 30th 2008 10:33PM]

Awesome! Before long the iPhone will be running this kinds of applications!

[Rick @ Oct 30th 2008 10:44PM]

1. This is all academic. Even before the financial meltdown it had been widely reported that GE was and is still trying to shop the Home Appliance division to the highest bidder. Like maybe Haier. Then all the design and R&D will be done in China and probably the manufacturing as well. Just like "Good Ole" Milwaukee Power Tools which is now a subsidiary of a Chinese firm.

2. Ryan is wrong, they have nothing to do with solid state which implies semiconductor or other device. Einstein refrigerators (and similar devices) use a gas (natural, LPG, etc) flame and a liquid/gas refrigeration cycle. We had one back in the late 40's in Miami when I was a little kid. My parents wanted a reliable refirgerator that would work when the power went out during hurricanes.

[ryan @ Oct 30th 2008 10:59PM]

1) At this point it'll probably be Haier, Mabe or Electrolux. Engineering will stay in Louisville for the near future, but I would not expect that to last. At least that's what they tell us.

2) My bad, I misunderstood solid-state to be the same as no moving parts. I should have said that. I have likely been making a fool of myself for years.

[Levi @ Oct 30th 2008 11:39PM]

come on GE bring on the printed OLED home lighting! That's exciting!! Right?!

God I'm a nerd.

[bearxor @ Oct 31st 2008 12:03AM]

It's just G now. They sold the E to Samsung.

[derek @ Oct 31st 2008 12:29AM]

I think all this economic slow down has stopped all new INTERESTING technology developements. What a slow news day at Engadget. Might as well turn of the lights as you lock up guys, or maybe find something a little more grovey. Run the epaper one again.

[Ryback @ Oct 31st 2008 4:31AM]

When will the fridge be featured on 30-rock?

[MarbleMind @ Oct 31st 2008 7:32AM]

I honestly can't tell wether the background image of that pic is a stylized photograph or a screenshot from a game.

[Bruce Dempsey @ Oct 31st 2008 9:34AM]

http://www.bigaro.ca/Lousy-GE-Refrigerator-ruined%20-my-floor.html
Have a look at what a so called futuristic ge fridge did to my house