United States. Carrier and Whisker Labs have teamed up to help homeowners save on heating and cooling costs, while enabling participating utilities to better maintain grid reliability during peak demand.
Whisker Labs is managing this new program, in which participating utilities can include on-demand connected Carrier Côr thermostats and energy reduction programs that use the Bring Your Own Thermostat (BYOT) model for customer enrollment.
Available now, Whisker Labs will leverage the Côr thermostat's patented technology to control participating homeowners' thermostats to reduce demand during peak hours. "We are excited to add a premier HVAC manufacturer to our utility offering," said Dave Oberholzer, GM energy manager at Whisker Labs.
The benefits of participation in demand response programs are twofold. Homeowners with Côr thermostats will benefit from potentially reducing their heating and air conditioning bills, while also receiving incentives to participate in the BYOT program and rebates from participating utilities, where they are offered. On a broader scale, the program aims to decrease demand on the power grid during periods of high demand or when stressed due to extreme weather conditions or power generation deficits.
BYOT programs often offer utility-sponsored rebates that can reduce the cost of purchasing a Côr thermostat while also offering customers recurring participation incentives. According to Navigant Research, approximately 50,000 U.S. customers are currently committed to BYOT programs. According to Navigant's report, the potential customer base for BYOT demand response is estimated at 20 million customers, which translates to a $3 billion customer segment.
