Google's PowerMeter app helps you keep track of your electricity costs.

Google Inc. unveiled its PowerMeter web application designed for home use. The application helps to control the cost of electricity through a mobile device with WiFi and broadband connection. It is clear that the application itself is not able to measure anything, but in conjunction with the device from the Blue Line company - it is even quite able to. The device is called PowerCost Monitor, and works in conjunction with another gadget - WiFi Gateway.

This whole system - two devices and one web application from Google, helps to track the cost of electricity at home, plus predict the level of energy consumption, optimize costs. In principle, for those who have a lot of household appliances, computer equipment, such a bunch is just right - sometimes the bills turn out to be exorbitant.
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According to users who participated in testing such a system, it helps to save from 5 to 15% of the normal level of energy consumption. In principle, quite an interesting result.

By the way, back in July, Microsoft announced a partnership with Blue Line Innovations. Collaboration is in a similar bundle of software / devices for monitoring energy consumption. The software giant offered its application, called Hohm Web. By the way, both Google offer and Microsoft offer are free, only the device itself is paid.

The PowerCost Monitor kit costs about $ 100, including a sensor that connects to the meter (unfortunately, there is no detailed information about such a connection). And yes, for monitoring via a wireless network, you also need a WiFi Gateway device, which serves as an intermediary between the software and the PowerCost Monitor gadget. Everything in a bundle costs 129 dollars.

In general, quite an interesting proposal, it would be nice if it were available not only in the United States, but also in the CIS countries.

Via CNET