Earth2Tech editor Katie Fehrenbacher interviewed Google Powermeter team member Tom Sly during Earth2Tech’s Green:Net conference. The interview was posted on Cleantechnica. As far as we know, this is the most recent and revealing news on Google PowerMeter's status.
The disarmingly named Sly was ... kind of sly. He wouldn't say how big his Google Powermeter team was, guarding his secret staff in ways we haven't seen since Mr. Wonka snuck in those adorably hard-working Oompa Loompas. (Sly commented that some of Google's most important products have been developed by teams so small that they could "Fit into this room - easily." Hmmm... ) Sly did let slip that those of us who have been waiting, almost patiently, for consumer friendly home energy data monitoring and smart metering sooner rather than later might not have to wait much longer. He indicated that his Google team expects to release Google Powermeter technology within the 2009 calendar year, but can't be sure how soon it will become applicable for most households. In addition to their well publicized work on utility-sponsored smart meters, for the first time he also confirmed they are working with device manufacturers to develop “a monitoring device that consumers who are motivated and want to have this information should be able to go to a big box retailer and buy something and start using it the next day...” (Tom--we're choosing to interpret the big box comment as an endorsement of ubiquity rather than suburban sprawl). Minute 3:13 for the overtly curious, quietly dubious, or time-pressed.
Rest assured we're doing everything possible to identify the consumer device manufacturer(s) that Google is working with. Our current, pre-Google favorite, as everyone knows, is the exquisitely named T.E.D. the Energy Detective. We've said before and will again: we're open to deploying some of our development resources to help integrate TED and PowerMeter.
In the meantime for you impatient sorts, remember that TED is here. Now. As we are doing, you can start monitoring your whole house electricity use and changing your energy behavior right now.
As to the big picture – Tom Sly, this is great news, and we wish your team all the best. The sooner consumers are able to have real time data about energy consumption, the sooner we will be able to make real progress in the realm of home energy efficiency. We will all save money. And we can spend it on Wonka bars!
Earth2Tech editor Katie Fehrenbacher interviewed Google Powermeter team member Tom Sly during Earth2Tech’s Green:Net conference. The interview was posted on Cleantechnica. As far as we know, this is the most recent and revealing news on Google PowerMeter's status.
The disarmingly named Sly was ... kind of sly. He wouldn't say how big his Google Powermeter team was, guarding his secret staff in ways we haven't seen since Mr. Wonka snuck in those adorably hard-working Oompa Loompas. (Sly commented that some of Google's most important products have been developed by teams so small that they could "Fit into this room - easily." Hmmm... ) Sly did let slip that those of us who have been waiting, almost patiently, for consumer friendly home energy data monitoring and smart metering sooner rather than later might not have to wait much longer. He indicated that his Google team expects to release Google Powermeter technology within the 2009 calendar year, but can't be sure how soon it will become applicable for most households. In addition to their well publicized work on utility-sponsored smart meters, for the first time he also confirmed they are working with device manufacturers to develop “a monitoring device that consumers who are motivated and want to have this information should be able to go to a big box retailer and buy something and start using it the next day...” (Tom--we're choosing to interpret the big box comment as an endorsement of ubiquity rather than suburban sprawl). Minute 3:13 for the overtly curious, quietly dubious, or time-pressed.
Rest assured we're doing everything possible to identify the consumer device manufacturer(s) that Google is working with. Our current, pre-Google favorite, as everyone knows, is the exquisitely named T.E.D. the Energy Detective. We've said before and will again: we're open to deploying some of our development resources to help integrate TED and PowerMeter.
In the meantime for you impatient sorts, remember that TED is here. Now. As we are doing, you can start monitoring your whole house electricity use and changing your energy behavior right now.
As to the big picture – Tom Sly, this is great news, and we wish your team all the best. The sooner consumers are able to have real time data about energy consumption, the sooner we will be able to make real progress in the realm of home energy efficiency. We will all save money. And we can spend it on Wonka bars!
Comments
Interesting to see Google throw its weight on this one. Can someone please explain why Google is doing this. Is this just for the good of humanity? If its for making money, would this be a paid service?
Posted by Mrtz on Apr 28, 2009 4:51pm