Microsoft Wednesday unveiled Hohm, a Web site to help consumers understand, monitor and manage the way they consume energy. While Hohm won't go live until next week, Microsoft was set to debut Hohm at the Edison Electric Institute conference Wednesday in San Francisco, according to reports.
Microsoft's Hohm uses algorithms to analyze and evaluate consumers' home energy data. Users provide the Hohm site with information about their household energy use and the site returns recommendations, which include everything from thermostat replacement to solar power suggestions.
Hohm's product manager, Troy Batterberry, told Reuters that consumers could expect to save as much as 10 percent on their energy bills depending on whether they follow those recommendations.
Microsoft has partnered with a number of utilities, including Xcel Energy, Puget Sound Energy, Sacramento Municipal Utility District and Seattle City Light, with more partners to be announced. While anyone can use Hohm, consumers who have utilities with which Microsoft has partnered don't have to manually add data to the Hohm site -- they can upload it through the utility partner. The Hohm home page appears to require only an e-mail address and Zip code to get started.
"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, in a statement. "Microsoft Hohm demonstrates how a combination of advanced software and Internet-based services can help people track, understand and manage their personal energy usage."
Hohm is similar to Google's PowerMeter, a Google Gadget application that also provides consumers details about their personal energy consumption. When PowerMeter debuted in May, Google had lined up eight utility partners of its own, with more on the way.
