Can we share our energy data?

One thing I really like to be able to do is help people understand their energy usage. Just by measuring a device with a Kill A Watt or by reviewing an electric bill, you can get some insight into which products use a lot of energy and things we can do differently to save energy.

Another thing that I have gotten excited about lately is online communities. You can learn so much from others who are interested in the same topic as you by connecting from time to time and posting your thoughts or ideas.

Putting these two ideas together, I’d like to help build an online community of people interested in renewable energy topics with the ability to share and compare real energy usage data.

This week I came across a website that also wants to see this happen. Energy Circle is publicly posting their electrical usage on a minute by minute basis. And they are asking for others to join them to do the same

Current Watchers is another site. These guys have written some software that can post data from a TED device (whole house energy monitor) to their website.

These sites are new… there are only a few households being posted so far. I’m almost there… I still have to work out a few bugs. When I get it working, I’ll post a link in another blog so people can see my energy usage.

Another site to watch is Google’s PowerMeter. Since google knows how to use the internet to build communities, I’m guessing they will do a good job of providing a place where we can see and discuss our energy usage. Unfortunately this is only working in a few test areas and you have to have the right equipment and electric company — so most of us will only get to watch from outside for a while.

Also, a few weeks back I wrote about Wattzon, a site that let’s you post and compare carbon footprints. After answering some questions about your home, heating, electrical usage and travels, you can see and post your carbon footprint.

Check them out! (and tell us if you’ve found others that we should investigate).