Wow, that it now finally has happened is really a good news. Google’s non-profit arm, Google.org now has announced that it, along with Power utility companies now will put an online power consumption report that will tell consumers their power usage, and ways to save power in an initiative that helps in reducing the Carbon Foot Print.
Compete with Neighbours and Friends?
That sounds really interesting. Yea, now you can strike up a little competition with your neighbour to win a friendly race in saving power or to put it google way, using your power efficiently.
As usual with Google, this initiative is in Beta, currently working with selected partners. And boy, we have our own Reliance Power participating! Which has by far, the largest number of customers among the list.
If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it!
That is the motto here. A quote by Lord Kelvin, it instantly strikes a nail in your head. If we are able to see how much my fridge is draining my pocket, then it means you either need to use it more efficently or you need to change it. That will save on your bill next month and help keep our planet a bit greener.
To quote what Google wrote on their website;
“For every six households that save 10% on electricity, for instance, we reduce carbon emissions as much as taking one conventional car off the road”
I welcome the Change!
visit Google.org Power Meter
An Update
As per what Varun had commented, I thought this will be a good point to add in this post.
As for companies, they stand to gain instead of loose. Due to insufficient power, they have to buy power at higher rate than the rate they could produce power at. That converts into savings for them instead of worrying about the loss that power control would bring in.
This move can help save a lot of power wastage and that is where we could possibiliy see a relief. Hope this works.
THat does sound one hell of a good initiative but hey, if Rel Power is participating it and hypothetically, if more Power corps in our country participate, would it result in a dip in the market? Corporates are gonna be really aware that they’d lose revenue the moment consumption is monitored.
It does good to monitoring carbon footprint but if it does no good to the pocket, how will it take shape?
Well Varun, the point here is that to avoid wastage of power. Believe it or not, I face a power cut of 6 hours in the day!!! It is too taxing for me as I simply cannot take this heat. But lucky, I am in office on weekdays and only suffer on weekends. However, its my family that suffers the heat.
Part of this is because the power utilities in Mumbai (Reliance, Tata and BEST) have a clause in their contracts that under no circumstances, Mumbai will face a power cut unless for technical faults. And whenever there is a shortage, MSEB has to provide them with the power at a pre-determined rate. Mumbai is running short of power big time and there is so much wastage.
As for companies, they stand to gain instead of loose. Due to insufficient power, they have to buy power at higher rate than the rate they could produce power at. That converts into savings for them instead of worrying about the loss that power control would bring in. I will better add these views in the post as an update.
Now that is the reason why we, who live in the adjoining suburbs and rest of Maharashtra suffer. Ours is stil ok, at most of the places it is 12 hours a day.
This move can help save a lot of power wastage and that is where we could possibiliy see a relief. Hope this works.