Microsoft Announces “Hohm” Energy Monitoring Tool

Microsoft jumped in to the Smart Grid field this week with its announcement of Microsoft Hohm (a combination of the word “Home” and “Ohm”), a service for analyzing home energy use and offering suggestions to increase efficiency and conservation.

 

The service starts with local and national averages, but customizes its suggestions based on information input by the user.  Hohm uses analytics provided by Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and the US DOE to suggest areas where the user might be able to reduce energy use.  In the future, MS plans to have Hohm incorporate data from advanced meters.  Hohm is also touted as helping utilities measure and meet their regulatory requirements for conservation and energy efficiency, and eventually to help reduce power consumption during peak hours.

 

Currently, the service is in beta form, but will launch with four utility partners on the West Coast.

 

MS and Google’s entries into the residential energy management sector are beginning to reveal the potential that access to energy consumption information has for the future.  This goes beyond simply selling ad space when you log in to view your home energy use. 

 

Imagine that these companies could not only show you your electricity use, but also your gas use and car use (through tools like MS Sync).  They could then begin to construct a semi-complete carbon footprint for you.  Paired with carbon offset projects that companies like Google are pursuing, they could begin mounting a vertically integrated operation for measuring and mitigating your carbon impact.  This might be a good fit with the cap and trade system that is currently being discussed by the Congress.

 

   Microsoft Hohm Website

   Microsoft Press Release on Hohm

   Microsoft Hohm Blog