The CES 2011 has introduced many a savvy electronic gadget, but none quite as revolutionary as the innovative LG Smart Appliances for your home.  LG THINQ Technology is the powerhouse behind the Smart Appliances initiative, and virtually transforms the way that consumers manage various appliance related functions in their home.  LG THINQ makes taking care of your home easier and smarter than you ever thought possible.

LG was at the CES 2011 with their full range of LG THINQ smart-home appliances and tools, which included Smart Diagnosis, Smart Access, Food Management, and Smart Adapt, all of which is monitored and managed through the LG Smart Grid.  The appliances analyze the need, make recommendations, and then perform accordingly.

Young-ha Lee, president and CEO of LG Electronics Home Appliance Company explained that by using the ‘recommended time’ option, the Smart Grid will communicate to your washing machine as to when the nearest, most cost effective time to wash is, and your washer will then begin operating at that time.  Using the ‘lowest rate’ setting will prompt the Smart Grid to start your washing machine when electricity rates are at their lowest.  If you need to do laundry at a set time, the Smart Grid will command your washing machine to to use the most energy efficient wash cycle.  The Smart Grid operates in a similar way for oven and refrigerator power use.

The Food Management functions allow you to monitor and manage the contents of your smart refrigerator, including expiration dates and what you’ve got on hand so that you don’t accidentally buy items you already have in the fridge.  The LCD display allows dragging and dropping food icons and voice commands to identify what food is in the refrigerator, and can even manage where they are located and when they are due to expire.  Those of you who like to stop by the store on the way home from work can access the Food Management features using your smartphone or tablet and access information such as what you already have on hand, and find out if anything is getting ready to expire.

The many applications for LG THINKQ technology are endless as we start to picture a Jetson’s style home, something that always seemed ‘off in the future’.  The LG smart appliances will only work in conjunction with utilities that have integrated smart meters, and will provide optimal energy savings in areas that utilize variable utility rates.  Not all regions have applied these types of technology and pricing to date, but most regions are likely on their way to such practices.

Until such time that smart appliances are a reality and all areas are up to date with smart meters, there is a wonderful selection of energy efficient appliances to consider to keep your home running efficiently and your bills low.   Amazon has also been ranked as the number one shopping spot for Small Home Appliances by the leading consumer research magazine for five consecutive years.

Source:  Cnet