Energy Controls

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/idgGreenComputing/idUS352592697020090625 Thursday June, 25, 2009. Last access 6/26/09.

It can be difficult to keep your energy use in check, but companies like Microsoft and Google are trying to make it easier.

These companies are creating programs that will gather information about your specific home (occupants, year built, types of energy most used) and prescribe ways to cut back or improve your energy use. Now this sounds like a lot of work for no reward, but if you can find ways to cut back on your energy - that cuts your energy bill - which always helps, especially in this economy. Microsoft's version is called "Hohm" and it's in a beta version at the moment. It is a computerized program that allows you to benchmark your home energy use with your neighbors and others in your area. This can also help utilities gather information (Microsoft assures us 'cheaply') and provide different strategies for saving energy and promoting better energy use. Google and other sites allow you to track your carbon footprint and benchmark your energy use without collecting quite as much personal information. So it depends on how comfortable you are with the Internet and whether or not you consider your energy use something private or not. (Recall the row a while back when they released the names of energy guzzlers.)

While Microsoft's working to get its Hohm up and running, Google already has a similar online application to provide you with feedback on your energy usage. But unlike Hohm, Google PowerMeter will only work if your home has a smart meter to feed data to Google's application. Once your smart meter is installed, however, PowerMeter can give you all kinds of information from a history of your personal consumption (post-smart meter installation of course) to how much energy your dishwasher sucked up today. PowerMeter is also privacy conscious and Google says they won't share any personally identifying information with your energy provider. Hohm vs. PowerMeter While both programs look interesting, Microsoft's Hohm may have an edge over PowerMeter, as Hohm will give you specific instructions on how to save money. Hohm will also be integrated with some social networking capabilities, allowing you to trade energy savings tips and see the usage patterns of other people in your area. Of course, it's possible Microsoft's promises won't meet reality. How, for example, will Hohm know if your windows actually need to be resealed? It sounds to me like Hohm's money-saving 'tips' will end up being general suggestions based on probable causes for any energy consumption that is higher than normal. It's hard to know for sure what Hohm entails, as Microsoft isn't providing much in the way of details at the moment. But with both Microsoft and Google in the game, energy consumption tools are definitely the next big thing in green tech. Let's just hope we don't regret handing over our energy consumption patterns to two giant corporations. Hohm is available only in the U.S, but international rollouts planned for the near future may include Germany, France, the U.K. and Canada. Google's PowerMeter is currently available in the U.S., Canada and India in partnership with selected energy providers in each country.

If both of these are a bit frightening and big-brother-like, search for KillAWatt (I've blogged about it before) and I'm sure you could find it on the Internet. A lower-tech alternative and no private information collected.