• Welcome
  • Community
  • Blogs
  • Photos
  • Join
  • Log in
Follow MNN    
MNN - Mother Nature Network - Envrionmental News
improve your world
Thursday, February 9, 2012
  • Earth Matters

    Browse All » Animals Weather Energy Politics Space Translating Uncle Sam Wilderness & Resources

  • Health

    Browse All » Allergies Fitness & Well-Being Healthy Spaces

  • Lifestyle

    Browse All » Arts & Culture Travel Natural Beauty & Fashion Recycling Responsible Living

  • GREEN TECH

    Browse All » Computers Gadgets & Electronics Research & Innovations Transportation

  • Eco-Biz & Money

    Browse All » Green Workplace Personal Finance Sustainable Business Practices

  • Food & Drink

    Browse All » Beverages Healthy Eating Recipes

  • Your Home

    Browse All » At Home Organic Farming & Gardening Remodeling & Design

  • family

    Browse All » Babies & Pregnancy Family Activities Pets Protection & Safety

Tweet
Pin It
Email Bookmark and ShareShare
WorldShares lets you earn donations for your favorite nonprofit. Earn up to 20 points now.
Learn More

Earn Points
What's this?
MNN.COM›

MNN BLOGGERS

Matt Hickman

Hohm sweet Hohm

Take a sneak peak at Microsoft Hohm, a free online app that helps users rein in household energy use.

Fri, Jun 26 2009 at 7:35 AM EST

Not satisfied with rearranging Netflix queues, managing checking accounts, placing items in virtual shopping carts, updating your Facebook status and Tweeting your brains out? A new free online application from Microsoft lets you spend time micromanaging your home energy consumption as well.
 
According to CNET, next week Microsoft will launch Hohm, an app designed to help folks save money (and the environment) by providing them with an online platform where they can monitor natural gas and electricity usage. Hohm is Microsoft’s contribution to the IT home-energy-monitoring craze, joining the ranks of similar free web-based apps like Google PowerMeter. Personally, I’m not sure if I need another thing on the internets to obsess over (Keyboard Cat’s got me covered) or fiddle with (thank you, FB), but I love the idea behind this.
 
 
Here’s the thing: when it comes to household energy conservation, knowledge is everything. But it seems that people generally don’t know what the heck is going on … a couple of bills arrive every month and we groan when they increase but we pay them and move on. All and all, it’s a vague and unpleasant affair. Applications like Hohm that allow users to see tangible proof of how energy is being misused and be told specifically what they can do to curb it have the potential to be big.
 
Although Hohm is in the beta stages and it sounds like utility providers don’t yet have the ability to feed information into the program (meaning users have to enter energy profiles manually), ideally the program will not only let you view and monitor your home energy use but also compare trends, interact with an online community, and get tailored recommendations on how to conserve energy using analytics from the Department of Energy and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Would you regularly (ie: obsessively) use an online app like Hohm to rein in energy use, move forward with home improvements, and save a few bucks?  Or would a more direct approach, like an unexpected visit from an energy surveillance firm, be more effective? Or do you even want to know the dirty details of your utility bills? Is ignorance bliss in this case? 
 
Via [Jetson Green] [CNET]
 
Photo: Microsoft 
 
(MNN homepage photo: DivaNir4a/iStockphoto)
CLOSE link:
Previous Post
The perfect fit
   Next Post
Playing catch-up: Variety show
You might also like:
Related Topics: Computers, Energy Efficiency, Home improvement, Microsoft

Comments

Follow this conversation
Add your comment
View:
  • All (2)

anonymous
Gucci sneakers 11/06/2010 00:12 AM

http://xk130.blog.com/
http://ettieri.blogmonster.de/
http://eonberger.webs.com/

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

anonymous
researcher 06/26/2009 16:31 PM

In addition to this service, you can get individualized attention with answers within 24 hours with Green Irene. Green Irene, the only national home eco-consulting firm, offers a very affordable Green Home Makeover designed to help homes Go Green. With a national network of eco-consultants, you can sign up for a Green Home Makeover anywhere you are. Visit us at www.GreenIrene.com to learn more today!

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

Add your comment

Sign in with one of these accounts or just add your comment below.
    Log in or
    create an account
     
    Login
Used only for emailed comments and will not be displayed with your post
Notify me with an email when other people comment on this article.
The posting of advertisement, profanity or personal attacks is prohibited.
Click here to review our Terms of Use

tease to ecollywood

tease to squatter

tease to toxic plants for cats

ADVERTISEMENT

TOP MEMBERSJoin Now
  • poland.jr
    21026 points
  • ecomainegirl
    9359 points
  • achase
    9323 points
  • LauraB
    5049 points
  • Momof2
    4514 points
All members

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER

CONNECT WITH MNN

Follow @twitterapi
 Tumblr
 Google +
FROM OUR SPONSOR
SC Johnson: A family company since 1886
Calculate the amount of water you use to wash dishes
New Ziploc® VersaGlass™ Containers make saving water and time a snap! more >
6 most pesky warm weather bugs
Don’t let annoying bugs ruin your outdoor fun. Keep insects out with plant-... more >
Play the Glade Decor Scents Fragrance Photo Hunt
Test your skills of observation by spotting all five differences in each pair... more >
Healthy home, happy family
Get the facts about SC Johnson cleaning products that are good for your home... more >
What’s Inside SC Johnson
A detailed look at the ingredients in SC Johnson's products. more >

ADVERTISEMENT



Quick Links

  • About Us
  • Advisory Board
  • Editors' Blog
  • Press
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
  • Terms of Service
  • WorldShares

MNN Tools

  • Advice
  • Blogs
  • Day in History
  • Eco-glossary
  • Infographics
  • Lists
  • Photos
  • Videos

Connect

  • Community
  • Contact Us
  • Contests
  • Idea Lab
  • Mixed Greens
  • Newsletters
  • Polls
  • RSS

Channels

  • Earth Matters
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Green Tech
  • Eco-Biz & Money
  • Your Home
  • Family
  • State Reports
 

Copyright © 2012 MNN Holdings, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Website by GLICK INTERACTIVE | Powered by CIRRACORE
 
SPONSORS