Powerit Solutions, an international energy management technology company, today announced receipt of the OpenADR 2.0b Profile Specification certification. OpenADR 2.0b is a full-feature specification for complex energy management solutions supporting automated demand response (DR) and distributed energy resource management for both wholesale and retail programs. http://www.poweritsolutions.com/index.php?id=974

IPKeys announced today the successful conclusion of multi-phase pilots at PJM Interconnection for Ancillary Services (Synchronous Reserve and Regulation) utilizing IPKeys’ OpenADR 2.0b certified Energy Interop Server & System (EISS™). The pilot participants - Walmart, PJM, Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and Schneider Electric – succeeded in showing the technological feasibility of using the OpenADR 2.0b profile in the field for ancillary services and regulation signaling.http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20140513005231/en/IPKeys-PJM-Walmart-BerkeleyLab-Schneider-Electric-Demonstrate#.U3IzsLTiPR4

Mandated OpenADR enabled thermostats, lights, and buildings create new opportunities.

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/californias-title-24-a-grid-smart-thermostat-in-every-building

The Open Automated Demand Response (OpenADR) Smart Grid standard enables compliance with the new Title 24 California Energy Code, in effect Jan. 1, 2014. Since OpenADR is being designed into most building management and lighting control systems, California business owners and operators can more easily comply with the changes to Title 24, originally adopted in 1978 to regulate California’s energy crisis by requiring any construction of a new building, or alterations made to an existing building, to meet certain standards. The new code includes more stringent regulations for demand response (DR) capabilities within lighting and HVAC in both residential and non-residential buildings, enabling better management of peak energy demand, costs and overall energy usage.

http://www.businessenergy.net/DE/Articles/Demand_Response_Is_Now_Big_Business_25503.aspx?pageid=511f7b38-159a-422e-b10e-fed968694384

Starting in June, California’s updated Title 24 building code will require that lighting, HVAC, new or retrofit thermostats and a range of other systems come equipped with demand response capability.http://www.utilitydive.com/news/californias-new-building-code-to-mandate-demand-response/247680/

In February, Open Automated Demand Response (OpenADR) achieved another milestone toward becoming an international standard when theInternational Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), a renowned standards development organization, released a profile of OpenADR 2.0 as a Publicly Available Specification (PAS). This action recognizes OpenADR as a standard that will enable our electricity systems to be more responsive and smarter about operating under numerous economic, environmental, and security restraints. OpenADR 2.0 is already a national standard in the United States, as the result of Smart Grid standards interoperability activities coordinated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP).

The OpenADR Alliance today announced that the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has approved the OpenADR 2.0b Profile Specification as a Publicly Available Specification (PAS) IEC/PAS 62746-10-1 as a basis for a new commission standard to be developed. The level of international support for the PAS validates the global importance of the OpenADR smart grid specification. To read more please view link below:

http://globenewswire.com/news-release/2014/02/25/613151/10069909/en/IEC-Approves-OpenADR-Specification.html

The OpenADR Alliance and WI-SUN Alliance today announced a liaison agreement to more quickly accelerate the rollout of energy efficient program offerings. The two organizations will work together to enable interoperability between Smart Utility Networks and utility demand response programs based on the OpenADR specification.

Google announced its $3.2 billion acquisition of Nest, a manufacturer of smart thermostats and other connected products, in Jan 2014.  This transaction positions Google as a key player in the rapidly changing demand response (DR) market.

http://www.intelligentutility.com/article/14/02/what-does-google-acquisition-nest-mean-dr

At DistribuTECH, it was all about real-time demand response applications.

When the OpenADR Alliance rolled out its second-generation communication standard protocol, the organization figured that three types would meet the needs of the industry.

When Nest Labs' $129 smoke detector -- which can talk to the Nest learning thermostat -- is touted as a cheap gift suggestion in holiday gift guides, it would suggest the connected home is becoming a reality.

It’s hardly the arrival of the Jetsons age, especially when it comes to how we manage energy use in the home. But this past year has seen some notable movement in how utilities are leveraging thermostats in the home, how companies are connecting services in new ways and changes to residential electricity pricing. 

Comverge, OpenADR Alliance make inroads.

Although there has been a lot of technology investment in the country, it is unclear where, how and when demand response will play out in Japan. When Comverge looked at the Japanese market, an R&D facility seemed like the most appropriate way to answer some of those questions, and the firm may be well positioned to leverage an early-mover advantage.