Competing Software to Help Make Homes More Efficient

It's an epic battle for America's green consciousness from two of the world's largest software companies: In one corner, the product of a seasoned veteran from Redmond, Wash., is Hohm. In the other corner, from a quick and hard-hitting contender out of Mountain View, Calif. is PowerMeter.

We're talking, of course, about arch-rivals Microsoft and Google, both of which have stepped up their respective releases of software designed to help businesses and households monitor and manage energy use. Earth2Tech.com reported on Microsoft's recent beta release of Hohm, not surprisingly at the same time Google slowly unveils its PowerMeter. Heated competition pretty much guarantees that consumers will be winners, either through better products, low prices, or both.

The two are very similar in approach and intended market, based on preliminary reports and marketing materials. Another Earth2Tech.com posting lifts the veil on Google's PowerMeter efforts:

"Google's PowerMeter will take the energy consumption information provided by a smart electricity meter and display the energy info on the users iGoogle home page. Yep, only residents with a smart meter will be able to get the most out of the tool — so good thing President Obama is calling for another 40 million smart meters installed using funds from the stimulus program."

But Microsoft's no slouch. An article posted at EcoGeek.org describes the software Goliath's offering (more dryly dubbed the Environmental Dashboard for Dynamics AX) as more muscular and loaded with features but perhaps not as intuitive to use. It's also geared more toward businesses, historically its strong suit:

"The Environmental Dashboard application for Microsoft Dynamics AX is catered to businesses rather than home energy users. Like the Powermeter, the Environmental Dashboard helps businesses analyze and reduce their energy consumption, but it also helps them measure their greenhouse gas emissions."

That's a great start, but it's what consumers and business do with this information that really counts. Maybe both versions of the software eventually will include a function to provide small electric shocks when we leave the water running or forget to flip the light switch off when we leave a room. OK, maybe a more subtle reminder would do the trick.