App Makes Saving Energy Social at Facebook

April 4, 2012
Tapping into the smart grid capabilities at public utility companies, the new app allows users to closely monitor usage, compare savings with friends and share conservation tips.

An application released on April 3 plugs into the power of Facebook to make saving energy an online community affair.

The social networking colossus worked with the Natural Resources Defense Council and energy information software specialty firm Opower to launch the mini-program with an initial reach of more than 20 million U.S. households.

The application -- available online at social.opower.com -- lets people monitor home energy use by connecting with local power companies using Facebook accounts and then share progress toward conservation goals.

An array of 16 utility companies have signed on for the program, which is intent on expanding.

"The enthusiasm we're seeing from people who are excited about getting better context about their energy use, and share or even brag about their energy efficiency within their social networks is inspiring," said Opower chief executive Dan Yates.

"It demonstrates a shift within the industry for how people expect to interact with their utility."

The application takes advantage of smart grid capabilities at public utility companies and then lets friends at Facebook compare energy frugality and even share tips or challenge one another to power-saving competitions.

"Facebook was designed to enable people to connect, share and multiply their impact," said Marcy Scott Lynn of Facebook's sustainability team.

"This app is a powerful, easily accessible way for people on Facebook to do just that, inspiring conversations about really important topics -- energy and the environment -- that might not otherwise have taken place."

If every U.S. household cut energy use by 1% it would lop $1.6 billion a year from the country's overall energy bill, according to NRDC attorney Brandi Colander.

The savings was equated to disconnecting 1.2 million U.S. homes from the U.S. power grid.

"This important tool will enhance energy literacy, making our daily energy choices more transparent and empower people to make smarter, more economical decisions," Colander concluded.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2012


See Also:

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

Empowering the Modern Workforce: The Power of Connected Worker Technologies

March 1, 2024
Explore real-world strategies to boost worker safety, collaboration, training, and productivity in manufacturing. Emphasizing Industry 4.0, we'll discuss digitalization and automation...

3 Best Practices to Create a Product-Centric Competitive Advantage with PRO.FILE PLM

Jan. 25, 2024
Gain insight on best practices and strategies you need to accelerate engineering change management and reduce time to market. Register now for your opportunity to accelerate your...

Transformative Capabilities for XaaS Models in Manufacturing

Feb. 14, 2024
The manufacturing sector is undergoing a pivotal shift toward "servitization," or enhancing product offerings with services and embracing a subscription model. This transition...

Shifting Your Business from Products to Service-Based Business Models: Generating Predictable Revenues

Oct. 27, 2023
Executive summary on a recent IndustryWeek-hosted webinar sponsored by SAP

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!