Google PowerMeter "Always On" Power Consumption with the Current Cost ENVI

A great piece of information from the Google PowerMeter is the 'Always On' consumption!

This shows you how much your house is using all the time, and what all those devices on standby are costing you.

On this screenshot we can see that this home is using 4.3kWh per day - which is over half the total of 6.5kWh per day. Just think about that - over half your power bill is being spent on keeping equipment running that you might not even be using.

www.smartnow.com.au
www.smartnow.co.nz

New Google PowerMeter for Current Cost ENVI from SmartNow

The latest release of the Current Cost Google PowerMeter software (version 1.0.18.0) is now available for download. This release adds the ability to upload Current Cost history to Google PowerMeter. Currently only the 2 hour history data is uploaded. There have also been various bug fixes for internationalisation.

You can download the latest release of the Current Cost Google PowerMeter software here:

http://currentcost.com/download/CurrentCostPowerMeter.zip

About Google PowerMeter:
http://www.smartnow.com.au/current_cost_google_power_meter.html

Google PowerMeter and www.SmartNow.com.au and the Current Cost ENVI

Just a few short weeks after the launch of Google PowerMeter and the response has been incredible. Fortunately we've got stock arriving very shortly so we can keep up with the demand!

The Google PowerMeter is a fantastic tool - the first responses we are getting from our customers are that they are amazed at the proportion of their money they are spending on their Always On - basically the stuff that's on all the time.

We are seeing people using 10 kWh a day... and their Always On figure accounts for 6 kWh! Over half the bill spent on standby!

Exciting times... www.smartnow.com.au

Google PowerMeter comes to Australia and New Zealand with the Current Cost ENVI

The Current Cost ENVI is now compatible with Google PowerMeter.

www.google.com/powermeter/about/partners.html

Here is the link to the Google Blog with the announcement!

http://blog.google.org/2010/05/largest-supplier-of-energy-monitors-now.html

This means that you can get Google PowerMeter one of two ways in Australia and New Zealand:

1) Purchase a Current Cost ENVI and USB cable from SmartNow. Plug the ENVI into your computer and upload the data to Google PowerMeter.

2) Purchase a Current Cost ENVI and a Bridge, available in August 2010 from SmartNow (Pre-order from 1 July 2010) and plug your ENVI into the Bridge into your Internet Router... this means that your power information is uploaded to Google PowerMeter without your PC being on!

For more information please see http://www.smartnow.com.au/current_cost_powermeter.html

Smart Meters not so Smart

The Age this morning ran this article.

Whilst we at SmartNow are generally in favour of Smart Meters, we're in favour of it being done properly. At the moment, the allegation that the consumer is paying for the Smart Meter, but the power company gets all the benefit are completely true.

It is a real shame that they are not including real-time displays with the rollout, as this is effectively the only way that people can learn to reduce their power bills. Getting a power reading for the previous 24 hours just doesn't cut it.

Peer reviewed studies from around the world have repeatedly found that getting instantaneous information about consumption is the only way that people can learn how to reduce their energy use. You turn something on or off, and watch the power spike or fall.

Instead, with the feedback that customers are getting here, you turn a device on or off and have to wait 24 hours to see the effect.

So, whilst we're waiting for this system to be put right, get a Current Cost ENVI or TREC and slash your power bills.

Sokitt's Energy Audit Blog - how to save cash...

Finn at Sokitt has pubished some interesting findings of his own home energy audit...

http://www.sokitt.com/blog/?p=20

Here he explains about his findings with his own personal coffee machine, fridge, and kettle.

Well worth a read.

Monitor the Power from your Solar Panels!

We've just launched a great new package to enable solar panel and micro-generation monitoring using the Current Cost ENVI.

The package includes:
A Current Cost ENVI
A Current Cost TREC
A USB Cable.

The two transmitters are installed to monitor the power the house is using and the power the solar panels / wind turbine is generating respectively.

The ENVI receives data from both displays, and sits in the study / home office and downloads the data to your PC.

The TREC sits somewhere more accessible - maybe the kitchen workbench, or next to the TV - an also receives data from both transmitters, allowing the whole family to keep an eye on their power use.

And best of all... this package saves you $30 off the cost of the individual components!

Click here for more information!