Get a Grip on Energy Costs With Free Software

As Tonic.com reported back in June, Microsoft's energy software, Hohm, promises to help homeowners and renters get a better grip on energy costs.

With summertime here, and fans and air conditioning being added to the mix, there's no better time to jump on such a project and Microsoft makes it pretty darn easy with is free beta software that went live earlier this month.

Using Hohm is all about conserving energy and understanding how much all that technology you have plugged in is actually costing. Just consider that turning those PCs off every night and on days when not needed can save $80 annually for each device. Even just configuring your displays to go to sleep mode can save a $100 bucks a year.

Users can configure a profile to determine energy costs and potential savings. There are also some insight articles about saving in non-tech segments of your home. For example, there's info on Federal tax credits for energy efficiency purchases. While my local energy provider isn't on board yet, Hohm is partnering with energy providers across the country to help consumers track and reduce energy costs. Follow Hohm on Twitter or the blog, and you can also suggest that Hohm reach out to your provider as well.

In the meantime you can begin tracking your home's energy use with a few simple steps. Not a bad thing to do when the temp is rising and energy bills are making you even hotter.