Google PowerMeter: Energy Consumption Information Made Easy - Dynowatt, Texas

Ever since energy efficiency became a priority for the average consumer, utilities have tried to make it easier for individuals to estimate their level of power consumption. Not only does this allow customers to save money, but it also reduces the amount of fossil fuels that are burned to keep those power plants humming. In recent years, smart meters have come to the forefront. While these units allow users to measure and consume energy with more precision, it's often hard to keep track of that information. That's where Google comes in. The search engine leader, which just turned eleven, has made compiling and releasing information its business. With the recent introduction of the Google PowerMeter, the Mountain View, California-based company aims to empower ordinary consumers to understand how much power they are using and why.

Thanks to the rapid integration of computers into our daily lives, we expect to be able to use information faster than ever. As Earth 2 Tech points out, conventional smart meters don't provide the kind of detailed feedback to consumers that can really make a difference. Even worse, some utilities only compile data every fifteen minutes and wait a whole day to distribute a report.

In order to provide quicker and far more detailed reports, Google has teamed with TED, a company that manufactures smart meters. Once a homeowner has purchased a device (such as the TED 5000), he or she must arrange to have the meter installed. Altogether, this could cost a few hundred dollars. (A cost that, eventually, would be outweighed by the savings it provides.) With their homes equipped, the user can then opt in to Google's PowerMeter service. Once logged in, the consumer will be able to view detailed graphs and charts that show, almost minute by minute, how much juice is being used and when.

During those long summers, we often crank the air conditioning a little too much to get some release from the incessant heat. By viewing the PowerMeter reports on your iGoogle account, you would be able to see the real effects of turning that dial on the thermostat. The graphs will spike when consumption increases. Seeing those sharp spikes in living color will help us to decide how much heat or A/C we really need.

The PowerMeter service, as Google says, will allow the user to do three things: Analyze, Save and Share. Being able to compare your energy use to that of friends and neighbors adds something valuable: competition. We all know that we should turn off our lights when we leave the room, and follow all of those standard conservation guidelines. It might motivate people to cut back even further if bragging rights are on the line.

Having the PowerMeter service provides the consumer with some unexpected benefits, including remote monitoring. By simply logging into your account, you would be able to see if there are any unexpected power draws in your home. (Perhaps you accidentally left the air conditioning running!) PC World recounts the story of a Google employee who tested out the service. After checking her power consumption, she found the level was unexpectedly high. The culprit turned out to be a toaster oven she had inadvertently left on all night. The device had started to melt; checking PowerMeter may have prevented a fire in her apartment.

Google has initiated the project as one of their philanthropic activities. (Google is notorious for other information-disseminating good works. For example, they have scanned tens of thousands of out-of-print and public domain books, making them available to all.) As such, the company won't be making money off of the PowerMeter service. There are, however, some benefits for the company. First, the service builds customer loyalty. If you spend time checking your electricity use through them, you're more likely to do business with other parts of Google's business. Second, according to Earth 2 Tech, Google could help shape the architecture of the next-generation power grid, which could be a net advantage for the company in the end.

Many utility companies print consumption charts on their bills, providing customers with monthly feedback. Before long, your home will be equipped with Google PowerMeter or a system like it, making it easier for you to see the tangible benefits of the small steps you take to keep the meter from spinning too fast, benefiting both your pocketbook and the environment.