Smart Home Blog

Finally Google announced the first device for its new service PowerMeter – TED 5000. It’s really good choice. The TED 5000 has everything to be the best energy consumption monitor. It’s split by three parts – measurement module, network gateway and display. In case of using Google’s service the display is not needed. The network gateway will allow to connect to the PowerMeter and send the measurement data there.

The current price of TED 5000 – $200, including measurement module and network gateway, is quite reasonable. And probably it’ll be cheaper when the PowerMeter will be open for the users. I hope that the European version will be produced as well. Because as I understand the current version is suitable for US only.

If you care about environment and your electricity bill but always forget to switch off unnecessary light using SmartSwitch is an one way to solve that situation. It’d designed to give user feedback about a value of personal or communal electrical usage. If that value reached predefined maximum than the SmartSwitch is physically harder to use, thanks to a brake pad inside the mechanism and built-in microprocessor. As result the user will always remember to turn off unnecessary light and electronic devices.

The SmartSwitch fits into standard electrical boxes and data communication occurs through the electrical lines using X11 protocol.

Right after Google’s PowerMeter Microsoft launched its own service – Hohm. Both services provide more or less the same functionality – view energy consumption for the specific period in different formats such tables or charts, possibility to export the data, some recommendations to decrease utility bill and carbon emission. Also the services includes a social networking part which allows to share your statistics with your family and friends.

But the ways how PowerMeter and Hohm get data are completely different. Google together with General Electric started developing of power meter device. Instead of that Microsoft is making partnerships with utility companies to get measurement from them. Sure for US is maybe good and easy way. But for the rest of world – no. Google’s approach is more generic. So, in my opinion it has more chances to score big successes!

Google announced its new web service – PowerMeter. AS you may understand from its name the main goal of that service is to provide a way for consumers reduce their electricity bill amount and carbon footprint by making smart decisions about energy use.

The idea is not so new. There is a bunch of energy meters on the market. But the biggest advantage of PowerMeter is an integration between device and web service which allow to analyse data, store statics and represent results in the easy understandable format like charts or graphs. Additionally the energy consumption data can be shared with relatives, friends or neighbours.

Currently the Google PowerMeter is a closed beta program. As I understand the main problem to make it public is the energy meter. Not sure which one is used by Google. Probably it makes a deal with GE. But when the device will be in production the PowerMeter will be open.

ONZO announced its new stylish energy monitoring kit. The kit includes LCD display and wireless sensor. The display shows current energy consumption or statistic data for last 10 years (if you have used it so long ) received from the sensor. It has a reversible back which allows users to stand it on a shelf, attach it to the refrigerator or hang it on a wall. The display works from rechargeable batteries and has USB ports to connect it to PC.

The sensor is a clip which attaches to one of the cables coming from the electricity meter. That cable is used not only for measurement of energy consumption but also to power the sensor. Additionally the sensor operates on ultra low power.

The kit will be on sale in middle of this year. The price is not known yet.