Google Unit Aims To Save Electricity

Google wants Internet users to tap into smart electricity meters with new software that will help them save money and the environment. The search giant's philanthropic arm, Google.org, is pushing a piece of free software called PowerMeter that will let Internet users see how much electricity they are using at home in real time, a key first step in getting them to cut back. If all goes well, Google says it believes it may one day help people track their water and natural-gas consumption, too. "Energy efficiency is the ultimate low-hanging fruit for cutting carbon emissions," said Dan Reicher, Google's director of climate change and energy initiatives. PowerMeter has been released in test mode and is being used by thousands of people in areas where local utilities have installed next-generation smart meters. Those meters enable utilities to monitor and bill people's electricity consumption, and to pinpoint problems in real time—all from afar.