Blog

We Did It Again: First OpenADR 3.0 Certified VEN!
March 24, 2025
Yes, we did it again! We're proud to announce that eisy is the first to achieve OpenADR 3.0 Certified VEN status! And we didn't stop there - we've made our certified VEN open source so you can all experience its elegance for yourselves!
OpenADR Alliance Webinar on OPEn
February 12, 2025
Join me for the upcoming OpenADR Alliance Webinar where I'll be presenting OPEn and how AI and OpenADR 3.0 eliminate the need for yet another new standard for demand flexibility.
IEEE PES Grid Edge Technologies
January 16, 2025
Attention IEEE PES Grid Edge Enthusiasts and Other Human Entities! You're cordially invited to attend my OPEn presentation on Monday, January 20, 2025, at 1 PM PST at IEEE PES Grid Edge Technologies in San Diego, where your presence will play a crucial role in elevating my already off-the-charts anxiety levels! If I survive the experience, you just might learn something about OPEn!
OPEn Part I
November 23, 2024
A couple of weeks ago, I teased you with my idea of OPEn (Open Platform for Energy). Now, it’s time to rock a few boats, and bring some pies down from the sky. In Section 2, I share a real-life example of how we can achieve demand flexibility without introducing new standards—leveraging OPEn alongside a simple interaction with AI (ChatGPT, in this case).
OpenADR 3.0 in Action!
November 15, 2024
As one of the contributors to OpenADR 2.0, it only made sense for me to dive into OpenADR 3.0. After all, why stop at being the best when you can aim to be the besterest? Yeah, I know... English isn’t my first language, but innovation speaks for itself!
Been There, Done That …
November 9, 2024
It was heaven! Or so I thought… until it turned into Groundhog Day, repeating endlessly as my team and I found ourselves constantly developing, integrating, and dabbling in countless versions of smart grid and gadget communication protocols and standards.
CalFlexHub Symposium 2024
October 8, 2024
Orly is on the "Communication, Control and Interoperability in Small Buildings" panel along with Matter Alliance, Silicon Labs, and Renew Home.
PG&E Extends the Energy Expert Project
July 20, 2024
Following the successful completion of the Customer Engagement contract, PG&E is extending it for 2 more years!
PG&E and UD Present at 49th PLMA Conference
April 30, 2024
UD and PG&E present how smart speakers can support utilities in keeping residential customers educated, engaged, and support demand flexibility at the 45th PLMA Conference.
LBNL Awards UD a Contract
March 26, 2024
LBNL/CalFlexHub awards UD a contract to prototype a Demand Flexibility Gateway that optimizes off-the-shelf devices using OpenADR 3.0 signals and explore optimal connectivity options (3G/4G/Broadband).
PG&E Energy Expert Project Final Results
December 13, 2022
This project aims to use Voice Assistants to educate customers on energy usage, bill forecasts, TOU automation, IoT connectivity, configuration, and utility notifications.
UD Awarded Dynamic Rates Contract by SCE
August 3, 2022
UD Awarded Contract by Southern California Edison (SCE) to Demonstrate Subscription Based Dynamic Rates.
SCE and UD Present at 45th PLMA Conference
April 1, 2022
UD and SCE present how smart speakers can support utilities in keeping residential customers engaged with time-of-use (TOU) rates at the 45th PLMA Conference.
Final Results for SCE Smart Speaker Project
March 2, 2022
Results are impressive: - TOU 5-8PM saved 10% or 0.22kW on Summer Weekdays. -TOU 4-9PM saved 9.7% or 0.23kW on Summer Weekends
UD Awarded Contract by PG&E
November 11, 2020
This project aims to use Voice Assistants to educate customers on energy usage, bill forecasts, TOU automation, IoT connectivity, configuration, and utility notifications.
UD Awarded Contract by SCE
July 2, 2019
UD Awarded Contract by Southern California Edison (SCE) to Demonstrate Device Optimization with Time-of-Use Rates via Smart Speakers.
The Importance of IoT and Transactive Energy for the Smart Grid
June 4, 2019
Services for IoT and Transactive Energy (TE) will be required to enable a truly smart grid. Michel Kohanim discusses UD's existing research, framework, complementing products/ecosystem that have seamlessly integrated IoT technologies and Smart Grid standards including Transactive Energy. OpenADR is a perfect fit for bringing all these services under one standardized umbrella.
CA Energy Commission EPIC 2019 Symposium
February 22, 2019
When: February 19, 2019Where: CA Energy Commission Universal Devices was featured in the CA Energy Commission’s EPIC Symposium both in the poster session, represented by Orly Hasidim, and in an in-depth panel discussion. The event took place in the Sacramento Convention Center and was attended by many including members of the legislator. The keynote speech […]
The Importance of IoT in Smart Grid Technologies
February 19, 2019
When: February 26, 2019 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM PSTWhere: Lawrence Berkley Lab – Energy Technologies Area (as well as online) Perhaps you have already heard of IoT – Internet of Things. IoT is pretty much meaningless without a purpose: how does it help anyone? Michel Kohanim discusses UD’s existing research, framework, complementing products/ecosystem […]
Optimize Thermostat Through Alexa | Energy Expert
January 20, 2019
You can now make RATES to be more accurate by letting it detect the energy usage for your devices. It’s magnificent. Here’s the link to the announcement.
Michel Kohanim Moderates Transactive Energy Panel
January 10, 2019
As an expert in all things Transactive Energy, Michel Kohanim will be moderating a Transactive Energy panel on 01/22/2019 @ 1:15 PM at AESP. Here’s the link to the agenda. Here’s the link to the presentation. Do you want to meet us? Drop us a line.
OpenADR 2.0b Is Now an IEC Standard
January 9, 2019
The OpenADR Alliance announced that the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the world’s leading International Standards organization for all electrical, electronic and related technologies, has approved the OpenADR 2.0b Profile Specification as a full IEC standard, to be known as IEC 62746-10-1 ED1. And, of course, this means that all ISY994 Series are now IEC standard […]
Enhanced RATES Energy Expert Alexa Skill
December 16, 2018
You can now make RATES to be more accurate by letting it detect the energy usage for your devices. It’s magnificent. Here’s the link to the announcement.
RATES Energy Expert Alexa Skill
December 3, 2018
You can now talk to RATES through Alexa. We all this Energy Expert Skill and it’s awesome. Here’s the link to the announcement. Make sure you listen to the demo and interactions with Alexa!
Home:On Podcast
August 8, 2018
Our own brilliant Brad McAdams on Home:On Podcast !
Transactive Energy
June 14, 2017
Michel Kohanim discusses Transactive Energy at Gridwise Architecture Council Meeting!
Smart Grid and Homes
March 1, 2017
Article by Michel Kohanim and Rolf Bienert on Bringing the Smart Grid into Homes!
IPSO Alliance Co-Chair
November 3, 2016
We are proud and excited to announce that Michel Kohanim is now the co-chair of IPSO Alliance’s Semantic Working Group. IPSO Alliance’s mission is to enable IoT devices hardware and software interoperability between disparate physical and virtual entities across different frameworks and protocols. “Having the opportunity to work with IPSO Alliance members and IoT industry […]
Environmental Sustainability Award
May 31, 2016
Universal Devices, Inc. is proud to announce the receipt of Environmental Sustainability Award from the office of Senator Fran Pavley!
$3.2M CEC Grant (GFO 15-311/Group 2)
May 17, 2016
Based on years of experience in the fields of energy management, automation, and IoT – and in conjunction with expertise provided by Dr. Cazalet (the father of Transactive Energy) – Universal Devices, Inc. proposed RATES (Retail Automated Transactive Energy System) as response to California Energy Commission’s Grant Funding Opportunity GFO 15-311/Group 2 Solutions That Allow […]
OpenADR & IoT
March 1, 2016
Michel Kohanim to present at OpenADR and Internet of Things Webinar!
Left Coffee Pot On?
August 28, 2015
ISY in Washington Post: Left the coffee pot on? NO worries. There’s an app for that.
UDI addressing Title 24 in CA
May 9, 2014
UDI addressing Title 24 in CA