By Víctor Rodríguez-Doncel (UPM)
The AURORA project is encouraging citizens to use the AURORA Energy Tracker app to understand their carbon footprint, created from the way they power and heat their homes and from the transport decisions they take. It provides users with a labelling scheme to illustrate where they are on the journey we all must make to get to near zero carbon emissions. Using the app is the first step to understanding your carbon emissions, but what next. How can users reduce their energy consumption, lower their carbon emissions and save on energy bills. The AURORA project will shortly be providing all its users with tailored advise or recommendations on just how to do that, along with more details on our website. After all reducing your personal carbon footprint and saving energy and money is in everyone’s hands.
A simple example is to install and use devices that help people consume electricity at home in smarter ways. Smart Energy Meters will give you breakdown information on your energy use. Unlike traditional meters, which simply record overall usage, smart meters provide detailed, real-time insights into how energy is used within a home. One of the most advanced approaches to achieving this is the Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring (NILM) technique, an AI-driven method that disaggregates energy consumption data without requiring multiple sensors.
I was part of the first start-up to develop this technique and commercialize a system 10 years ago in Spain and I will tell you in this article why you may want to have one of these devices. That pioneering smart meter, then called Mirubee’s Mirubox, still available on the market today with another name, set the foundation for widespread adoption of intelligent energy monitoring in homes. Shouldn’t you get one? It might pay off very quickly! Read more to find out how…
How NILM Works
NILM technology allows a single smart meter to analyse a household’s overall energy consumption and break it down into individual appliances. By using AI, the system learns to recognize the unique electrical signatures of different devices. Initially, users provide some input—such as switching appliances on and off manually during a short training phase—to help the algorithm identify patterns. For example, Mirubee’s device asked you during the first days which appliance had been switched on with a pop-up message. Once trained, the smart meter autonomously provides detailed feedback on electricity use, offering a precise breakdown of energy consumption by device.
The Benefits of Smart Energy Monitoring
For homeowners, the benefits of smart meters equipped with NILM are substantial. By understanding which appliances consume the most electricity, individuals can make informed decisions about usage patterns and energy-saving strategies. The most energy-saving action we identified at Mirubee was about old fridges devouring energy: most users were surprised to find out about their energy-hungry refrigerators. Buying a new fridge often paid off within less than three years!
But the breakdown of electricity consumptions also helped to discover hidden energy waste, such as appliances left on standby. Small behaviour changes, like running appliances during off-peak hours or replacing inefficient devices, led to significant savings in both money and CO2 emissions.
The system was also useful to create home automation routines using IFTTT. IFTTT (“If This Then That”) is a web-based service that allows users to create automation workflows between different devices and applications. By setting up “applets,” users can trigger specific actions when certain conditions are met. For example, an IFTTT routine could turn off all smart plugs when the household energy consumption exceeds a set threshold or schedule electric vehicle charging based on solar energy generation. Mirubee was officially within the IFTTT ecosystem, and routines were created that considered the solar energy generation information to best arrange the electric vehicle charge. Some devices, like Mirubee’s, can also alert you a few seconds before you exceed the maximum contracted power, helping you prevent a blackout by taking timely action.
AURORA: Citizen Science and Personal Carbon Reduction
The AURORA project, coordinated from Madrid, aims to empower European citizens to reduce their carbon footprints. Through research, workshops, and technological innovation, AURORA engages individuals in understanding and acting on their energy consumption. A key aspect of the project is its citizen science approach—encouraging people, including students, to build their own energy sensors using Arduinos and other accessible technologies.
Smart energy meters, particularly those leveraging NILM technology, are transforming the way we interact with electricity consumption. By providing real-time, disaggregated data, they enable households to reduce costs and lower carbon emissions. The AURORA project highlights how citizen engagement and technological innovation can work together to foster more sustainable living. As smart meters continue to evolve and integrate with broader carbon-reduction initiatives, their impact on energy efficiency and climate action will only grow stronger.
AURORA’s workshops, held among young students, help to demystify energy data, making it easier for participants to connect their actions with their carbon footprint. Shouldn’t there be a workshop for NILM-based smart meters at AURORA? In any case… look for one of these devices at your favourite gadget provider!
