Microsoft recently launched a beta of their new site Microsoft-Hohm.com, which is designed to help you track your energy usage and show you ways to save money and energy. Think of it as the Mint.com for energy.
Hohm allows you to find your utility company and automatically import your energy usage. Right now there is limited support from the utilities, but you can manually input your energy bills to help keep track of your usage. The site also will help you build an in depth profile of your home and its energy strengths and weaknesses.
After looking at your energy bills and home profile Hohm will provide you with energy saving ideas to lower your usage and bills. They have some quick, simple ideas such as setting your computers to go sleep, replacing your incandescent bulbs with efficient compact fluorescents, and lowering the temperature of your hot water heater. They also offer more involved projects such as adding insulation to your attic, replacing inefficient appliances, and having your ducts professionally sealed.
Consumer energy monitoring is definitely becoming a more popular topic with hardware devices such as Energy Inc.’s T.E.D. (The Energy Detective) and Embedded Automation’s upcoming mStation. Microsoft’s online service has the potential to become an integral part of these systems.
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