Independent: By 2020 it is estimated that 80 percent of Europe will be connected to the smart grid, which will allegedly improve energy efficiency, lower electricity costs and be environmentally beneficial – but what actually is it? Consumers around the world remain skeptical about the smart grid and its connected utilities such as smart meters; July surveys from the Energy Saving Trust, Ofgem and Oxford University showed that 70 percent of British households would ignore any information provided …