Google Power Meter
Lord Kelvin said it more than a century ago: “If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve.”
Today, it’s become a business cliche: “What you don’t measure you can’t manage.”
In that light, and against the backdrop of the UN climate negotiations unfolding here in Copenhagen, Google, GE, The Climate Group and NRDC came together to call on governments around the world to provide people with real-time information on their home energy use.
Simply getting useful and timely information (as opposed to a monthly bill) about their electricity usage drives people to curb usage and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 5 to 15%, the companies said and studies show. When their usage is compared to their neighbors’, they cut back even more.
“This simple but bold call to action makes common sense,” said Steve Fludder, who oversees GE’s EcoMagination efforts.
The technology to deliver real-time information about electricity consumption — essentially, a meter and software — exists today and it’s not expensive.
GE makes so-called smart meters that it sells to electric utilities. It is also developing a wireless home energy monitor to be sold to consumers that will measure electricity usage, let consumers know which gadgets or appliances are using power, and communicate with so-called smart appliances so that dishwashers or dryers can run during times of the day when electricity is cheaper. All this is part of the smart grid and smart home you’ve probably heard about. (more…)
