Up until today, the companies driving innovation and competition in the Smart Grid field were smaller start ups like Tendril, Greenbox, Control4, and numerous others. Google's endeavor begins with the announcement of PowerMeter which will become an open platform for energy information.The device will display the information being picked up from your home's smart meter. As their slogan indicates, "If you can't measure it, you can't improve it." This quote from one of the Google employees testing the prototype shows the energy and cost saving potential of this type of product.
"By monitoring my energy use, I figured out that the bulk of my electricity was caused by my two 20-year-old fridges, my incandescent lights and my pool pump, which was set to be on all the time. By replacing the refrigerators with new energy-efficient models, the lights with CFLs and setting the pool pump to only run at specified intervals, I've saved $3,000 in the past year and I am on track to save even more this year! " - Russ, Hardware Engineer
Its current form lacks some of the sophistication that the other start ups have developed, but the Google brand and reliability will be quite appealing to consumers and vendors (utilities) alike. Although Google has been talking with prospective clients, this announcement officially declares their entrance into the field. The timing also coincides with the Stimulus Plan that is moving through Congress that will have money designated for Smart Grid expansion.
For an interesting nugget of what might be next on the horizon: Google is set to co-host an event with GE called "Plug into the Smart Grid" on February 17th in Washington, DC.
Check out this demonstration of PowerMeter:
PowerMeter official website.
Smart Grid News article.
New York Times article.
Treehugger post.
1 comment:
The idea is great and will certainly work. But what I do not like is that Google knows everyting about you at the end. What do you search, read, where do you live, your work, where you go on vacation, who do you call, send mail, and now also where you are at the present time.
There are plenty of options for viewing and mapping your energy. Without the intervention of your energy supplier our Google.
Why not improve your entire view of consumption such as gas, water and electricity.
Without the interference of Google and energy companies using the information for their own purpose.
Soon, Google becomes the energy supplier?
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