A Non-intrusive Load Monitoring Technique for Real-Time Energy Management

The rapid urbanization and increasing energy demand have necessitated innovative solutions for better energy management. This chapter delves into the realm of non-intrusive load monitoring (NILM), a technology that has gained traction for its ability to disaggregate overall energy consumption into individual appliance usage without the need for multiple meters. The chapter provides a comprehensive overview of various NILM approaches, from event-based and non-event-based methods to hybrid techniques, and discusses the evolution of NILM datasets, highlighting their role in benchmarking and evaluating algorithms. A significant focus is placed on the Look-up Table algorithm, a novel method proposed to tackle the challenges of high computational complexity and cost associated with real-time load disaggregation. The algorithm's performance is rigorously tested using datasets such as ECO and AMPDs, demonstrating its effectiveness in accurately identifying and predicting appliance states. The chapter also compares the Look-up Table algorithm with other state-of-the-art methods, showcasing its superior performance in various scenarios. The findings underscore the potential of this simple yet powerful approach in revolutionizing real-time energy management and conservation efforts.