Google PowerMeter Tracks Your Energy Usage

How much does it cost to leave your TV on all day? What about turning your air conditioning 1 degree cooler? Which uses more power every month your fridge or your dishwasher? Is your household more or less energy efficient than similar homes in your neighborhood? Well, Google has a new tool dubbed, Google Powermeter, which allows you to track all of your energy consumption and find out where to save on your bill.

Studies show that access to your household's personal energy information is likely to save you between 515% on your monthly bill, and the potential impact of large numbers of people achieving similar efficiencies is even more exciting. For every six households that save 10% on electricity, for instance, we reduce carbon emissions as much as taking one conventional car off the road.

To get access to energy information, homes need to be equipped with advanced energy meters called "smart meters." There are currently about 40 million smart meters in use worldwide, with plans to add another 100 million in the next few years. But smart meters need to be coupled with a strategy to provide customers with easy access to near real-time data on their energy usage. Google is working on a prototype product that would give people this information in an iGoogle gadget.

Google PowerMeter is currently not an open beta, but a closed beta and only invited participates may join. You can however join the mailing list to receive further information as it becomes avaliable.

More Information: Google PowerMeter