Facebook's New App Allows Users to Track Their Household Energy Consumption

In early 2012, Facebook will launch a yet-to-be-named app that will allow 800 million users to access home energy usage information provided by their utility company. This 'Social Energy Application' will help users manage their energy.

1 minute read

October 20, 2011, 8:00 AM PDT

By David Zeetser


In this new app, key features will include a 'Friend Comparison Feature' that will allow users to compare their usage to similar homes across the country as well as energy-saving tips that may help in reducing your monthly bills. Chat rooms will also be set up that will allow users to join in on conversations about home energy. Users will also be able to automatically or manually import data that allows them to track their household energy.

There have been several other attempts at similar energy-tracking apps already by Google and Microsoft, but Facebook is confident that their new app will click. According to Matt Hickman, "Commonwealth Edison (Chicago and environs), the city of Palo Alto, Calif. (natch), and Glendale Water & Power (Los Angeles County) will be the first three utilities to allow a combined total of 4 million customers to seamlessly import energy usage data into the new app when it launches. It's expected that other utility companies will follow."

Wednesday, October 19, 2011 in Forbes

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