According to a report from CNET, Best Buy will start a trial in October 2011 in which three stores will have dedicated areas to demo energy management products. The goal is to “make home energy products approachable to more than just a small niche of users.”

While the products for the stores in Chicago, Houston and San Francisco have yet to be finalized, “there will be a variety, ranging from simple whole-house energy monitors to a combination of a home security service and smart thermostats.”

Here’s more from the CNET report:

One of the products expected to be part of the trial is General Electric’s Nucleus energy management product. Priced at about $150, Nucleus is a simple gateway about the size of a cell phone charger that collects energy usage information and lets consumers control thermostats and connected appliances.

Other products likely to be part of the energy management offering are smart outlets. With those, people can go around the house to measure the power of different appliances. Through a smart thermostat, smartphone, or PC, the outlets can also be used to set schedules for lights or electronics.

A more high-end offering that would require Best Buy installation would be a combined home alarm and security system with a remote controlled thermostat. Some Best Buy stores are already offering home energy audits and surveys for consumers