Google PowerMeter
Encyclopedia
Google PowerMeter was a software project of Google
's philanthropic arm, Google.org
, to help consumers track their home electricity
usage. 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.
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. 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. By early 2009, approximately 7% of US homes had a smart meter installed.
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 http://www.google.com/support/powermeter/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1340969.
Google PowerMeter announced their first UK partnership with AlertMe
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. 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 meter
s in San Diego County and Southern Orange County
by the end of 2011. 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.
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
's philanthropic arm, Google.org
Google.org
Google.org is the charitable arm of Internet search engine company Google.The organization has committed over $100 million in investments and grants as of May 2010. To fund the organization, Google granted them 3 million shares during their initial public offering. As of August 2011, Google.org's 3...
, to help consumers track their home electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
usage. The development of the software was part of an effort by Google to invest in renewable energy
Renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
, electricity grid upgrades, and other measures that would reduce greenhouse gas
Greenhouse gas
A greenhouse gas is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone...
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.
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. PowerMeter was intended for use with smart meters
Smart meter
A smart meter is usually an electrical meter that records consumption of electric energy in intervals of an hour or less and communicates that information at least daily back to the utility for monitoring and billing purposes. Smart meters enable two-way communication between the meter and the...
able to track electricity usage in more detail than standard electric meters
Electricity meter
An electricity meter or energy meter is a device that measures the amount of electric energy consumed by a residence, business, or an electrically powered device....
. According to Google, in 2009 there were approximately 40 million smart meters in use worldwide. By early 2009, approximately 7% of US homes had a smart meter installed.
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 http://www.google.com/support/powermeter/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1340969.
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.Google PowerMeter announced their first UK partnership with AlertMe
AlertMe
AlertMe is a UK company that provides energy and home monitoring hardware and services. AlertMe produces hardware and software to enable users to monitor and control their home energy use....
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
IGoogle
iGoogle , a service of Google, is a customizable Ajax-based startpage or personal web portal . Google originally launched the service in May 2005...
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
IGoogle
iGoogle , a service of Google, is a customizable Ajax-based startpage or personal web portal . Google originally launched the service in May 2005...
home page. 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
Sempra Energy
Sempra Energy is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego, California. It divides its interests into two broad categories: Sempra Utilities, including Pacific Enterprises/Southern California Gas Company and San Diego Gas & Electric; and Sempra Global, a holding company for...
company. San Diego Gas and Electric is to install 1.4 million smart meter
Smart meter
A smart meter is usually an electrical meter that records consumption of electric energy in intervals of an hour or less and communicates that information at least daily back to the utility for monitoring and billing purposes. Smart meters enable two-way communication between the meter and the...
s in San Diego County and Southern Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
by the end of 2011. 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.
See also
- Cent-a-meter
- HohmHohmMicrosoft Hohm is an online web application by Microsoft that enables consumers to analyze their energy usage and provides energy saving recommendations.Announced on June 24, 2009, Microsoft Hohm is built on the Windows Azure cloud operating system...
- Nonintrusive load monitoringNonintrusive load monitoringNonintrusive Load Monitoring , or Nonintrusive Appliance Load Monitoring, is a process for analyzing changes in the voltage and current going into a house and deducing what appliances are used in the house as well as their individual energy consumption...
- Kill A WattKill A WattThe Kill A Watt is an electricity usage monitor marketed by P3 International. It features a large LCD display and it enables cost forecasting. It measures the energy used by individual appliances plugged into the meter, as opposed to in-home energy use displays, which display the energy used by...
- Energy management softwareEnergy Management SoftwareEnergy Management Software is a general term and category referring to a variety of energy-related software applications which may provide utility bill tracking, real-time metering, building HVAC and lighting control systems, building simulation and modeling, carbon and sustainability reporting,...