Microsoft Hohm Helps Consumers Save Money and Energy |
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Microsoft Hohm Helps Consumers Save Money and Energy |
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Thursday June 25, 2009 |
Microsoft Hohm Helps Consumers Save Money and Energy New online application enables consumers to better understand home energy usage. LadyDragon --
Microsoft Corp. today announced Microsoft Hohm, a new
online application that enables consumers to better
understand their energy usage, get recommendations and
start saving money. Microsoft Hohm uses advanced
analytics licensed from the Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy to provide
consumers with personalized energy-saving
recommendations. Microsoft Hohm is an easy-to-use tool
that helps consumers lower their energy bill and reduce
their impact on the environment. The beta application is
available at no cost to anyone in the United States with
an Internet connection and can be accessed directly by
visiting http://www.microsoft-hohm.com/. "We believe
technology will play a pivotal role in tackling the
global energy issues we currently face," said Craig
Mundie, chief research and strategy officer at Microsoft.
"Microsoft Hohm demonstrates how a combination of
advanced software and Internet-based services can help
people track, understand and manage their personal energy
usage." Consumers today are
motivated to save energy to reduce their spending and do
their part in conserving the environment. According to a
May 2009 utility consumer survey from Gartner Inc.
(conducted with households in the U.S. and U.K.), 80
percent of consumers in the U.S. would participate in an
energy program if it were offered by providers. Data also
showed that cost reduction is the key driving force
behind participating in an energy efficiency program.* Microsoft Hohm
provides savings recommendations, which can range from
placing new caulking on windows to removing air leaks to
installing a programmable thermostat. These
recommendations are tailored based on specific
circumstances in the consumer's home including house
features, usage patterns and appliances. The savings will
vary based on the information shared and the
characteristics of consumers' households. If consumers
don't provide their data, Microsoft Hohm will base its
recommendations on local and national averages. Microsoft
Hohm will leverage the energy usage data and feedback
from its users to refine and improve the accuracy and
relevancy of recommendations. In addition, consumers will
be able to compare their energy usage with that of others
in their area and connect with the Microsoft Hohm
community to find referrals and exchange ideas. Microsoft Hohm is
built on the Windows Azure cloud operating system and
leverages Bing search as well as the Microsoft
Advertising platform, and is accessible from any computer
using a modern browser. Microsoft Hohm -
Enabling Utilities to Provide Enhanced Customer
Experiences and Helping Utilities Meet Regulatory
Requirements Today's advanced
utilities are leading the charge to be environmentally
responsible and sound energy providers. Microsoft Hohm
helps utilities by equipping them with a cost-effective
and scalable tool that allows them to supply their
customers with comprehensive information regarding their
energy consumption. For instance, consumers who are
customers of a Microsoft Hohm utility partner company can
opt to automatically upload their energy usage data into
the application in the near future. Microsoft is proud
to team with four industry-leading partners including the
following: -- Puget Sound
Energy (http://www.pse.com/) -- Sacramento
Municipal Utility District (http://www.smud.org/en/Pages/index.aspx) -- Seattle City Light (http://seattle.gov/light) -- Xcel Energy (http://xcelenergy.com/Company/Pages/Home.aspx) Together with these
partners, Microsoft Hohm can help consumers reduce energy
consumption and take advantage of the rebate and
conservation programs utilities offer. A lightweight
standards-based software development kit (SDK) is
available for utilities interested in partnering with
Microsoft Hohm. Microsoft is also
partnering with Itron Inc. and Landis+Gyr to make it
easier for utilities and consumers to automatically
access granular energy consumption data. Integration with
meter data will make it even easier for utilities to take
full advantage of Microsoft Hohm offerings. Using Microsoft Hohm
can help utilities meet the increasing regulatory
requirements for energy conservation by promoting utility
conservation programs with customers. Utilities can also
leverage Microsoft Hohm to encourage customers to reduce
or spread their energy consumption during peak periods.
Microsoft Hohm helps utilities demonstrate their
environmental responsibility. Links: -- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Microsoft-Hohm/95894301860?ref=ts Microsoft Hohm
Launch Partners "We're excited
to team with Microsoft in adding Microsoft Hohm to our
tool kit of energy efficiency services to help our
customers save money, energy and the environment,"
said Steve Reynolds, CEO and president of Puget Sound
Energy. "Puget Sound Energy shares the belief with
Microsoft that better information leads to better choices
in energy use. Microsoft Hohm will help our customers be
more energy efficient by providing new insights and
understanding into how they use energy and how they can
conserve." Sacramento Municipal
Utility District: "Microsoft Hohm
represents a simple, no-cost opportunity for consumers to
learn more about and track their energy usage," said
Elisabeth Brinton, director of community relations at
SMUD. "As an online information tool, Microsoft Hohm
complements SMUD's award-winning, locally delivered
energy efficiency customer service programs. Whenever a
conversation can be started around energy efficiency,
it's ultimately beneficial to everyone." Seattle City Light: "As a publicly
owned utility, we produce low-cost, environmentally
responsible power," said Jorge Carrasco,
superintendent of Seattle City Light. "Microsoft
Hohm will give our customers information that lets them
make smart decisions about their energy use while
potentially saving money." Xcel Energy: "We pride
ourselves on being responsible providers of energy,"
said Dick Kelly, chairman, president and CEO of Xcel
Energy. "A big part of that is our belief that we
need to constantly seek new ways to improve our
environmental performance. By adopting Microsoft Hohm, we
can provide our customers vital energy consumption
data that not only positively affects individual
behavior, but that collectively benefits the environment
as a whole." About Microsoft Founded in 1975,
Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software,
services and solutions that help people and businesses
realize their full potential. * Zarko Sumic,
"Utility Consumer Survey: Energy Efficiency, Do They
Care and Why?", Gartner Industry Research 6 May
2009: ID # G00167617 -- Video channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/MicrosoftHohm |
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