Apple Applications for Cutting Home Energy Use
Dave Greenfield | Date: 02-17-10 | Comments: 6
- Having revolutionized the music industry, Apple is setting its eyes on the energy industry. Only problem is that Google is doing the same.
A benefit of rising fuel and utility costs is that companies
and consumers alike have been forced to rethink how they use energy, and Apple
is taking a competitive stance. Recently, the tech giant filed two patent
applications designed to help people use the energy in their homes more
efficiently. The green race is on.
News of Apple’s SmartHome Energy Management System comes at
a time when rising energy costs coupled with rising use of computing devices is
creating a pressing situation for consumers’ wallets and the health of the
environment. The energy we use for computing, including cell networks and
broadband, adds up to 2 percent of global carbon emissions. Fifty percent of
that comes from our PCs and peripheral devices. This is only going to grow, and
many companies, including Google and rival Apple, are stepping into the fray.
One of the key features of the proposed SmartHome system is
that it would utilize HomePlug Powerline technology. This transforms every
outlet into a conduit for data, including audio and video, which allows access to
devices anywhere in the home. Apple’s patent applications would use HomePlug to
help consumers save energy by:
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Helping consumers schedule device charging
during off-peak hours or simply turning off the PC and using dedicated
chargers, which operate on a fraction of the energy a computer does. SmartHome
would provide consumers with the information they need to make better energy
decisions.
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Acting as a sort of task manager. The SmartHome
system would allow users to monitor the consumption of each device, as well as
set maximum limits for optimal power usage. Consumers would be able to monitor
power usage in a much more comprehensive, accurate and real-time way in order
to use energy more efficiently.
Apple’s patent applications followed moves by Google and
Microsoft, both of which have developed products aimed at reducing consumer
energy consumption. Google.org’s PowerMeter allows for monitoring of home
energy use, while Microsoft’s Hohm Web application gives tips on weatherizing
homes and reducing energy consumption through “behavior changes.”
The race to provide the most effective, user-friendly power
monitoring system will only benefit consumers, who will be able to make better
choices and keep their energy costs down.
