If … For every generated electron that travels through our transmission and distribution grid, there is an electron consumed in our homes, offices and factories  …

Then … The "grid" is only half the smart grid story.

For the past several years, the electric utility industry has been focused on smart grid; and for decades, the automation and controls industry has focused on the efficiency of greener buildings. These two industries have largely operated in silos, despite the literal connections between the electric grid and the electric devices that consume energy.

Despite a tremendous focus on smart grid, there is little attention paid to consumption. If the smart grid industry is so concerned about efficiency on the grid, they should be equally concerned about the way electricity is consumed beyond the grid.

Compared to other industrialized countries, the U.S. does a relatively poor job of automating and controlling how energy is used within buildings. In fact, data show that residential, commercial and industrial buildings consume 72 percent of all electricity in the U.S., and approximately 50 percent of that energy is wasted.

This is not only an unsustainable use of our resources, but it paints a dismal picture for the bottom lines of building owners, facility managers, and homeowners across the nation. And as electricity prices continue to rise, the problem will compound.

Fortunately, many buildings today already have in place some type of automation and control system, which is often used to ensure various systems (like HVAC and lighting) work at optimal efficiency. With some tweaking, these buildings could easily be adapted to connect with smart grid technologies for even greater performance and savings.