While Facebook may be the social media platform to beat, there's an even more powerful social networking force that promises to be in all American homes one day. A growing number of startups are applying the principles of social networking to home energy management, and bringing social media to the smart grid. In the process, they are revolutionizing people's understanding of their energy use, building successful companies and helping to lessen the impact of each individual on the environment.
What is The Smart Grid?
The smart grid refers to the overlay of digital communications technology on our existing electrical infrastructure. It lets houses and utilities to "talk" to each other through web-enabled energy meters and appliances. Connected devices such as refrigerators, air conditioners or TVs broadcast data about their energy consumption over a secure network and, when necessary, electrical utilities can remotely shut them off to avoid overloading the grid and causing rolling blackouts. The smart grid promises to deliver cost savings, environmental benefits and transform the way customers interact with electrical utilities. Because social networking is built upon interaction and communication, social media and the smart grid are a natural fit; think of it as the “Gridbook.”
"What's so fascinating about smart grid is that there is so much that can cascade off of that," said David Leeds, senior research manager at Greentech Media. “I think ther e are profound opportunities to use...
