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Eight hours. That’s how long the average U.S. homeowner went without power in 2020.¹
And that isn’t the only energy challenge impacting American households. Issues such as rising costs and energy inefficiency are becoming more common. And they’re prompting homeowners to reconsider how they make and consume energy.
Over the past several years, we’ve heard our customer’s energy concerns. They want reliable backup power. They want to reduce their carbon footprint and be more sustainable. They want simplicity. At Schneider Electric, we’re listening and we’re delivering the solutions homeowners need with an urgency this moment requires.
It’s because of these efforts that Schneider was named one of the Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company — joining the ranks of customer-centric powerhouses like Microsoft, SpaceX, and Logitech.
This designation has me thinking about the bold ideas that brought us to this moment and where we go from here. I share some of these thoughts in this blog post.
Where we were: Bold ideas drove our progress.
Our company built a reputation — and has stood the test of time — by listening and responding to our customer’s energy needs.
Since the days when electricity became a viable power source, Schneider has been an essential part of the fabric of the nation’s electrification. We offered the first safety switch, reducing the risk of electrical hazards on the factory floor. We developed the first residential circuit breaker. And we followed that up with the first GFCI circuit breaker and arc-fault circuit interrupter — effectively launching the modern electrical protection found in homes today.
As the energy needs of the nation changed, so did we.
Schneider teams kept their ears to the ground to understand our customers’ most pressing challenges. We built strong relationships, not from selling singular products, but by providing all-encompassing solutions that addressed concerns like unreliable power and poor efficiency. We researched bold ideas to address these challenges with greater efficiency, reliability, sustainability, and safety. And we invested in future-ready companies and forward-thinking employees so we could bring these bold ideas to life.
Where we are: Bold ideas solve current needs.
All of this brings us to this moment, when solving energy problems seems more important than ever — for the sake of our customers, homes, and the planet.
Today, 20% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to home energy use. And an increase in severe weather has put stress on an already aging electrical grid. The real, immediate impacts of climate change and unreliable power are felt from New York to California and everywhere in between.
Homeowners require innovations that meet the needs of an electric, digital world — innovations that enable them to create and manage their own energy, so it’s reliable and sustainable. We call this shift to electrification and digitalization Electricity 4.0, and we believe it’s the best way to decarbonize, drive efficiency, and eliminate waste.
In its announcement naming Schneider one of the Most Innovative Companies in the consumer electronics category, Fast Company highlighted the Square D™ Energy Center. This all-in-one electrical panel was born from a bold idea: that adding sustainable, reliable power and energy management to a home should be simple. And the energy center delivers by making it easy for everyone — builders, contractors, solar installers, etc. — to add solar, backup power, and EV charging to a home.
Together with other home energy management solutions such as Wiser Energy™ home power monitor and electrification services powered by Qmerit, we’re making the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable future accessible for customers.
And we’re setting the stage for an all-digital, all-electric future.
Where we’re going: Bold ideas will shape our future.
As pressures continue to mount around climate change and power reliability, our customers will require more solutions to overcome them. Just as we did over a century ago and just as we are doing now, Schneider teams will be there to listen to those needs and respond with digital, electric innovations to solve them.
So, what’s the next bold idea? What’s the next innovation poised to change our industry and culture? We have several exciting launches in the works that’ll continue making home energy more reliable and sustainable. And one day soon, I hope to say that those eight hours homeowners endure without essential power are a thing of the past.
Stay tuned. We have much in store in 2022 and beyond.
This is also where you come in. Our Schneider Electric community continues to innovate by bringing together people who aren’t afraid to think outside the box, to think ahead, and to think boldly.
If you’re ready to bring bold ideas for the all-digital, all-electric future to life, there’s a place for you with us. Follow this link to join our talent community.
