The killer apps for batteries: Electric buses and natural gas peaker plan hybrids?

Manufacturers of home automation systems are getting together with the makers of weather stations to help smart homes run more efficiently based on the current temperature, the position of the sun, daily forecasts, precipitation, and more. A recent study commissioned by the National Grid, a US electricity and natural gas company, found that consumers can save 16.5% on energy costs when using a connected thermostat integrated with a weather station, compared to 5.15% energy savings with a standard thermostat.