The Future Lies in Monitoring Utility Use

Posted under Blog by Ruth

One of the key factors for ensuring our homes will be energy-friendly in future is going to be to monitor our utility use carefully, according to Geoff Manaugh of BLDGBLOG and Dwell magazine.

Manaugh’s comments come as a response to an IBM engineer who has made the news for monitoring his energy usage using the online service Twitter.

British Andy Stanford-Clark has setup a system monitoring all aspects of his home, including the use of lighting, water, and heating. He is sent messages through Twitter when he is away from home, to help him keep track of energy levels and solve any problems as they occur.

The monitoring was personally setup by Stanford-Clark, branded a master inventor, who wanted to keep track of his own needs and ensure that nothing goes to waste. This includes occasions where a faulty valve on a hosepipe caused large amounts of water to be wasted over the garden. This system made sure he was alerted straight away.

Manaugh claims that this kind of monitoring is key for the future of energy efficiency in homes. Consumers will not only reduce their energy usage, it will also give them more of a clear idea as to their exact needs. In this case, it’s suggested that we could all personalise our systems according to what we use and what we need.

Manaugh has also suggested an “electrical Weight Watchers” programme to help us keep track of how much CO2 we are using.

If you don’t yet have the technology to implement such systems then starting with insulation and double glazing can reduce your CO2 usage dramatically, also helping to save money on bills in the long-term.