Energy-saving add-on Google Powermeter is out here in Blighty today. The free service uses smart meters to tell you just how much energy you’re gobbling up, whether it’s from always-on set top boxes or kettles being filled to the brim.
To get Google Powermeter making you feel guilty about how much energy you’re wasting every day, you’ll need to buy an AlertMe Energy smart meter, or sign up to first:utility for your leccy. AlertMe Energy costs £69 and then £3 a month and uses a broadband hub and a clip for your meter.
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Once you’re all set up, Google Powermeter will ping details of your energy consumption to iGoogle, so you can check how much you’re spending wherever you are. Graphs compare how much you’re using with previous months and even the regional average.
The Guardian says heating and power from UK homes adds up to 27 per cent of the country’s carbon footprint. If we want to meet those targets and maintain that eco halo, then Google Powermeter sounds like the way forward.
Out now | £Free | Google (via The Guardian)
