Q-GRID SMART: A blockchain-enabled smart home energy management and analytics system

Abstract

This study presents Q-GRID SMART, a decentralized, blockchain-enabled residential energy management platform integrating IoT-based monitoring, predictive analytics, and an interactive user dashboard. In a one-month pilot across 4,196 households in Doha, Qatar, machine learning models (GRU, Bi-LSTM) forecasted energy consumption, cost, and CO₂ emissions with RMSE = 160.9 kWh and MAE = 120.3 kWh. Post-deployment surveys (n = 312) indicated a Net Promoter Score of +42 and 87% reported improved energy awareness. The platform achieved an average 16.8% electricity reduction and 145.4 kg CO₂ savings per household per month. We further analyze how blockchain latency and confirmation times affect real-time control and user experience, proposing mitigation via edge control loops, batching, and Layer-2 solutions (state channels, rollups). These results demonstrate Q-GRID SMART's potential to deliver scalable, secure, and user-centric energy management solutions for utilities and households.