Energy Saving and Technology

The New York Times has a great article on how using web based tools consumers can monitor and save energy. Users in the study saved up to 20% just by becoming aware of their own usage.

My team and I created a business plan for utility companies to start using energy monitors in my Management of Innovation class. Through our research we found that energy monitors are probably going to become something as common and simple to use as a thermostat. The monitors offer real-time usage reports. Some monitoring systems are more advanced than others, but all in all they all seem to help users save energy. In the UK real-time energy monitors are going to be provided by the government for free in efforts to reduce energy usage.

Here are some more links with information and reviews of products currently available.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/07/wattson_monitor.php
http://www.diykyoto.com/
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/05/the-home-joule.php
http://consumerpowerline.com/homejoule/
http://www.powermeterstore.com/index.php?cPath=628
http://www.energymonitor.com/
http://www.theenergydetective.com/index.html
http://www.powercostmonitor.com/p3982/power_cost_monitor.php
http://www.digitalreviews.net/reviews/miscellaneous/kill-a-watt-energy-monitor.html