{"id":7252,"date":"2016-03-18T09:10:29","date_gmt":"2016-03-18T16:10:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/therealdaily.com\/?p=7252"},"modified":"2016-03-18T09:26:09","modified_gmt":"2016-03-18T16:26:09","slug":"curb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theamericangenius.com\/housing\/real-estate-tech\/curb\/","title":{"rendered":"CURB could be a helpful part of the smarthome of the future (and just won two awards at SXSW)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Energy experts have recommended energy meters for years to help homeowners determine which appliances are sucking electricity. The big problem is that it was almost cost-ineffective to do so and the meters weren\u2019t very \u201csmart\u201d and technology-friendly. <\/p>\n

Fortunately, a startup based in Austin (where we are also headquartered), decided to take a different approach. A team of scientists, designers, and engineers came together to develop a smart-meter. The result is an award-winning product that turns a home into a smart-home. <\/p>\n

\"curb-demo\"<\/p>\n

Updating the home to be more tech savvy<\/h2>\n

In 2011, the idea for CURB<\/a> was born. Cars were being integrated with technology to get different reports about their efficiency, why couldn\u2019t homes have the same capability? The next year, the company was birthed when more data-loving engineers and scientists came on board. <\/p>\n

<\/i> Read also: Angee is a livestreaming home security system (and we love it)<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\n

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\nBy 2013, the team had the first energy-smart units developed and ready for testing. In the past few years, CURB has won multiple awards, such as the 2015 Alphalab Gear National Hardware Cup, and most recently, the SWSX \u201cBest in Show\u201d in the startup category at the Capital Factory, and the McDonald\u2019s SWSX Internet of Things Challenge, where it outshone more than 80 other contenders. <\/p>\n

How does CURB work?<\/h2>\n

CURB<\/a> plugs into the breaker system of your home and connects to an app on your laptop or mobile device. It allows you to see, in real-time, your power usage, but that\u2019s not all it does. Here are just a few of the ways CURB works to make your home a smart-home: <\/p>\n

\u2022\tManage your energy budget by setting a threshold for energy use. You get a reminder if you\u2019re going over your budget to make adjustments to stay within your price range.
\n\u2022\tWatch which zones in your home use the most electricity, day by day, throughout the day.
\n\u2022\tCompare your electricity use to others with the same-size home.
\n\u2022\tGet reports and recommendations from the app to manage your bill.
\n\u2022\tGet a reminder if you leave the stove or an appliance on or unusual energy drains.<\/p>\n