Google revealed the first screen shots of Power Meter this week, giving us a chance to gawk in anticipation at various displays of information that will soon be available to select homeowners. Early indications are that the data will be accessible and helpful, and (dare we say it?) remarkably similar to our own accessible and change-driving real-time electricity monitoring project. In fact, we were interested to see that early users of PowerMeter (at this point, all Google employees) learned many of the same lessons we have learned during our Kilowatt project. We are eager to see this application become widespread, because we are more certain than ever that it will change behavior.
For those of us who love our houses, a recent blog in WorldChanging, describing our homes as "mistakes we live in" was a little unsettling. There is truth, however, in the point that our houses live very long lives, unlike our cars and inefficient appliances. The author noted that, whatever the short-comings of the Waxman-Markey bill, we should pay heed to the positive implications of increased efficiency regulations for buildings. The oft-cited problem that efficiencies are invisible and therefore less appealing to builders, whose competitors may construct similar looking (but less efficient) buildings for less and sell them more easily can be overcome with regulations that ultimately will be followed by every builder. "...[T]he biggest fear voiced will be that these measures will make buildings cost more."
Trade groups representing realtors and builders do not agree that tighter energy efficient building standards and codes are the best approach, a worry they have expressed vocally, noting that these times are difficult enough already, and additional burdens will strain the industries beyond their limits. This is an important debate that we will watch with interest, as regions as disparate as the Province of Ontario and Austin, Texas begin mandating home energy audits for sellers.
Efficiency applies to more than energy, however, and builders are noting that conserving water is becoming an increasingly pressing concern among home buyers, and is likely to remain so, as builders grapple with ways to make homes more efficient.
Finger pointing Forbes.com noted that "Oil-addicted Maine" where 80 percent of residents rely on oil to heat their homes - as opposed to 8 percent nationwide - took the first step toward creating an energy efficiency utility on Friday that would utilize $79 million of Federal Stimulus money to be spent on conservation over the next two years. It is significantly underfunded relative to the state's need, but is a substantial step forward. Speaker of the house Hannah Pingree explained why making homes in Maine more efficient is so important: "Pingree said Mainers last year spent $1.5 billion on heating fuel. But because of poor insulation, inefficient heating systems and other forms of waste, $400 million of the total was wasted." (Note: this is legislation that Energy Circle was active in helping to draft and which we supported throughout the legislative process.)
Still daring to think that energy efficiency isn't sexy? It may not be a category at the Academy Awards, but Australia has just designated Alan Pears a Member of the Order of Australia in honor of the Queens Birthday in gratitude for his work in promoting energy efficiency in that country. Though Pears was grateful for the honor, awarded in part because he designed a star label to indicate which appliances were energy efficient (interesting concept...) he made clear that efficiency isn't getting the attention it deserves. "We are still well and truly in a massive battle for the recognition of energy efficiency," he says.
And speaking of awards... this week, Energy Circle attended the Tech Maine awards with fellow members of the rapidly growing tech industry in Maine, and brought home not one, but two "Best of the Web" awards: Best e-commerce site, and best brand. The awards recognized our efforts to deliver a best in class shopping experience for consumers, and saluted our memorable corporate image. We continue to work hard to cut through the complex and sometimes mundane territory of building science, and bring it home in a meaningful way. The awards were really gratifying. Thanks, Tech Maine.
Final note - you want some chips with that light bulb? The Department of Energy has proposed revamping energy efficiency standards for vending machines in the U.S., which would bring the average yearly energy consumption of our beloved soda and snack machines from 3,000 - 4,000 kilowatt-hours to 1,400 - 1,800 - a small step that would translate into significant savings, considering that there is currently 1 vending machine for every 100 Americans. Over a 30-year period the new standards are projected to save 10 billion kilowatt hours of electricity, as well as 5 million metric tons of CO2. Turns out, there's more than one way to be healthy....
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