Seems like a great IoT opportunity. Smart-appliances that are able to detect prices on a public energy marketplace, or receive a signal from energy companies, so that they can turn on their high-energy processes when the grid needs some evening out.
Ambient also has http://www.ambientdevices.com/about/energy-devices which again has the power information (including cost/kWh) that one could tap into... if the local power company supplies the information.
If you're in California, there's a company called ohmconnect.com. You can hook up your Nest thermostat and smart plugs connected to your lights, fridge, etc. They let you know once or twice a week of peak pricing hours... if you can reduce your consumption during those hours, they credit you. They use your smart meter to verify participation.
(I suppose that's way too serious to be done for the lulz, but one never knows)
Yeah, I hear ya. But at least it mitigates risk.
I understand that's not as easy as automatic. But manual also forces us to embrace "the din of awareness" such that green-thinking is who we are, and not something we "outsource" so we have more time and energy to consume.