System aims to put homeowners in command of energy usage

By Barry Harrell | AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF | Updated: 8:27 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2, 2011

Ever wonder exactly how much energy is wasted when you stand in front of your open refrigerator, deciding which leftovers to have for dinner? What if you could tell whether your DVD player is adding to your power bill, even when you aren’t using it?

That sort of knowledge about your home’s energy usage isn’t science fiction. It’s part of a direct-to-consumer service that New York-based EnergyHub is now offering to consumers in Texas.

The company’s products include “smart” thermostats and power strips that feed data to a tabletop monitoring screen. The monitor allows homeowners to track energy consumption for any appliance or device connected to the system. The system also wirelessly connects to the Internet and lets users remotely control devices and appliances using smartphone apps.

Read more at: http://www.statesman.com/business/system-aims-to-put-homeowners-in-command-of-1815940.html