ABSTRACT
As brieŸy discussed in Chapter 3, the home area network (HAN) is where the Smart Grid connects with the consumer. It is the part inside the home or place of business, and it is the part over which a utility or other service provider has the least control. This is hardly a surprise given that businesses have been operating a less high-tech version of the HAN for quite some time. In larger facilities, these are typically called building management systems (BMSs). These systems offer a variety of measurement and control functions for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC); water; lighting; and other environmental functions. Typically, building security systems are operated separately, but theoretically they are just another type of building automation. Increasingly, these systems also are monitoring and controlling the same types of end devices that utilities manage. For example, manufacturing facilities are full of programmable logic controllers (PLCs) that may operate valves, control the frequency of motors, and coordinate complicated assembly line functions. Because of the amount of energy required, an energy management system, which is one of the roles a BMS plays, is typically involved to measure performance and track ef˜ciency. This can offer companies an early warning for equipment that is about to break down or incur higher costs just like lower fuel economy in one’s car may be an early indicator that an oil change is needed or that the tires need more air.
