Chris Gohlke
07-29-2010, 11:00 AM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2010/07/microsoft-hohm-goes-wireless-with-blue-line.ars' target='_blank'>http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/ne...h-blue-line.ars</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Microsoft and Blue Line Innovations have announced a partnership designed to give consumers real-time information about their home energy use. Blue Line's popular energy tracking device combined with Microsoft Hohm can now give you information (in graph and chart form) about household energy use, its cost, and where you can save the most."</em></p><p><em><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1280346272.usr10.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></em></p><p>I'd really like to get this type of granular information, but I don't think I'd be able to realize enough cost savings to pay for the equipment. I'm waiting for my local utility to get in gear and start providing this information. About two years ago, they went around installing smart meters with the whole song and dance about enabling conservation through allowing users to monitor their usage in real-time over the web. In reality they've only used it to avoid having to send a person out to physically read the meter. Supposedly the features I want are "Coming Soon".</p>