Google’s new software, currently in the testing phase, will allow end users to monitor energy usage information in real time – provided a smart meter has been installed and it is compatible.  Using the data from Google, insights into energy consumption can be found and necessary steps taken to save money and carbon emissions from entering the atmosphere.

Google certainly has experience making information accessible having organized the Internet so well.  Now the computing giant is exploring other types of information and thinks it can help.  On February 10, Google announced it was working on the new software, called PowerMeter that will monitor energy consumption within a home.

Google has been involved in smart grid development and has stated that it wants to see government policies develop that are friendlier to the technology.  

“Google’s mission is to ‘organise the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful’, and we believe consumers have a right to detailed information about their home electricity use,” said Google engineer Ed Lu.  

“We’re tackling the challenge on several fronts, from policy advocacy to developing consumer tools, and even investing in smart grid companies.  We’ve been participating in the dialogue in Washington, D.C., and with public agencies in the U.S. and other parts of the world, to advocate for the investment in the building of a smart grid, to bring our 1950s-era electricity grid into the digital age.”

Differing from conventional metering devices, smart meters are able to provide consumption information and related data in real time.  Currently there are about 40 million installed worldwide with plans calling for another 100 million to be rolled out in the near future, according to Google.

Right now PowerMeter is only available to those participating in Google’s closed beta test.  Participants add the PowerMeter Gadget to their iGoogle pages just like any other Google Gadget.  That way, users can passively monitor their energy consumption throughout the day – at a quick glance.

A study conducted by the Environmental Change Institute at Oxford University found that smart meters promote more efficient energy usage.  “Savings have been shown in the region of 5 to 15 percent and 0 to 10 percent for direct and indirect feedback respectively,” concluded the study.  Google estimated that the average U.S. consumer could save between $60 and $180 annually just by using a smart meter.

Some may be concerned that the search behemoth may use the energy usage information internally.  “We believe that detailed data on your personal energy use belongs to you, and should be available in an open standard, non-proprietary format,” said Lu.  “You should control who gets to see your data, and you should be free to choose from a wide range of services to help you understand it and benefit from it.”

Google’s online FAQ explains that PowerMeter is an opt-in service where users agree to let the software monitor power consumption in the home.  It goes on to say that Google will not share any personally identifying information with the power company.  Users are also able to delete their information.  Once the service launches more broadly a more robust privacy policy will be available.

Google has been furthering the smart grid cause since 2007 when Google.org, the philanthropic division, announced the RechargeIT project that encourages the use of plug-in vehicles and vehicle-to-power-grid technology.

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