Research: Independent energy management solutions will outpace utility-based systems

There's a new research report out from Parks Associates that explores the implications of the fact that almost 80 percent of U.S. consumers are looking for ways to better control the costs of their energy consumption. The firm predicts that so-called independent residential energy management networks will be installed in about 9 million U.S. households by 2014. These networks will connect programmable thermostats, energy monitors and such.

Parks suggests that utility company's own proprietary systems for doing the same sort of thing via home area networks would be eclipsed by independent solutions by the year 2013.

I personally have my doubts about people's willingness to proactively use technology to monitor their usage and alter their habits (they SAY they're interested, but will they really do it?) After all, there are close to 115 million households in the United States, which provides some insight into the potential impact of that 9 million number.