While Google PowerMeter may not be a common household name, with the announcement of the first device partner, it could be on its way there.

Earlier this year, Google announced that it was testing a way to monitor power usage in your home.  The project was called PowerMeter, and at first it was just being tested by a few hundred Google employees.  A few months later it was announced that Google had partnered up with power companies to install monitors in homes, but there was still no easy way for your average person to take advantage of this new program.

Well, all of that has changed with the announcement that Google has a device partner now that will allow anyone to install a monitor in their home.

The TED (”The Energy Detective”) 5000 series from Energy Inc. will now allow you to purchase your own monitor, install it and keep tabs on how much energy your home is consuming via PowerMeter.  You will be able to log in to a secure Web site to check up on your stats, or you can even use the mobile version of iGoogle from your cell phone to keep a constant eye on how your home is using energy.

However, there does seem to be one major problem with this initiative: the price.  If you head over to the Energy Inc. store and browse through the 5000 series, you will see that prices range anywhere from $199.95 to $319.95 depending on the unit.  Back when it was announced that Google was teaming up with the power companies, it was estimated that using PowerMeter could save the average home between $60 – $180 a year.  That means at minimum you would need to be using your TED 5000 device for two years before you realized any savings.

I’m all for cutting down on electricity usage and helping the environment, but how about you just train yourself to turn stuff off you aren’t using and skip buying yet another device?

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Entry was posted on Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 at 4:09 pm under Google, Green Technology.

Read more entries by Sean P. Aune.
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