By Jesse Berst

Here's the thing with home energy management. Everyone agrees that if we have the right devices in the home, we can find lots of energy to "mine," whether as permanent energy efficiency or periodic demand response.

Numerous companies have tip-toed in this direction, trying experiments with digital picture frames and home automation gear and game consoles and home security boxes and thermostats on steroids. Now Tendril and Hitachi will make it possible to put home energy management into set-top boxes.

It's an intriguing idea in theory. However, it's not enough just to have Tendril technology inside. We still have to see energy providers step up to take advantage and software developers build the apps. Still, it's a step in the right direction. I've long felt that home energy management was not a product, but a feature. It does not offer enough convenience and enough savings to justify a device of its own.

Rather, it's more likely to show up as just another feature in some kind of home management system. I still don't know whether that central home function will come from Sony or Samsung or Comcast or Microsoft or ADT. But whoever wins the battle for the home will want to have Tendril-style energy functionality as part of their total package.

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