Google PowerMeter
Google PowerMeter was a software project of Google's philanthropic arm, Google.org, to help consumers track their home electricity usage.[1] The development of the software was part of an effort by Google to invest in renewable energy, electricity grid upgrades, and other measures that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It was launched on October 5, 2009.
The software was designed to record the user's electricity usage in near real-time. According to the company, if half of America's homes' energy use was cut by ten percent, it would equal taking eight million cars off the road.[citation needed]
It was hoped that this tool would raise the home-owner's awareness of how much energy they use and make users more energy efficient.[1] PowerMeter was intended for use with smart meters able to track electricity usage in more detail than standard electric meters. According to Google, in 2009 there were approximately 40 million smart meters in use worldwide.[1] By early 2009, approximately 7% of US homes had a smart meter installed.[citation needed]
Some other types of electricity meters and in-home energy use displays could also be used with PowerMeter.
On June 24, 2011, Google announced they were discontinuing PowerMeter.[2]
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[edit] Partnerships
Google PowerMeter combined with The Energy Detective (TED 5000), which is an energy monitor from Energy Inc. that measures electricity usage in real-time and helps users understand their electricity usage to save energy and money. In 2009 the device was available only in North America.[3][4]
Google PowerMeter announced their first UK partnership with AlertMe[5][6] on October 28, 2009. AlertMe, using a self-install consumer device and an online service, allowed UK consumers to access their home’s energy data in real-time on an in-home display, a personalized iGoogle homepage, or a mobile phone.
In 2010, Current Cost announced a partnership in the UK with Google PowerMeter, a free online tool that connects to Current Cost devices and enables users to receive real-time energy information on their customised Google homepage, wherever they are. Users would be able to track their electricity and gas usage through a chart or access that information from a widget on their iGoogle home page.[1] Current Cost began by collaborating with DEFRA and OFGEM to create a display device that would empower households with real-time information on their energy usage, which would later be included in the organisations' EEC program.
In 2009, Google PowerMeter partnered with San Diego Gas and Electric's Sempra Energy company. San Diego Gas and Electric is to install 1.4 million smart meters in San Diego County and Southern Orange County by the end of 2011.[7] Lee Krevat, the smart grid director at Sempra Energy stated that they sent out 100,000 post cards to let consumers know they could use the Google PowerMeter Service. About 6% have started to use the service.[8]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Verne Kopytoff; Ryan Kim (2009-02-22). "Google plans meter to detail home energy use". San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/10/BULM15RHFH.DTL&type=tech. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
- ^ http://www.google.com/support/powermeter/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1340969
- ^ Google PowerMeter's first device partner
- ^ Google turns its attention to saving the planet
- ^ Google PowerMeter announce first UK partnership with AlertMe
- ^ UK launch for Google PowerMeter via AlertMe
- ^ "Monitor Your Home Electricity Use With Google™ PowerMeter". SDGE. 2010. http://www.sdge.com/myaccount/energynetwork/. Retrieved December 10, 2010.
- ^ "Sempra Energy: Consumers are slowly embracing Google PowerMeter™ PowerMeter". GreenBeat. November 3, 2010. http://venturebeat.com/2010/11/03/sempra-energy-google-powermeter/. Retrieved December 10, 2010.
[edit] External links
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