Twittering power meter
About the Author
About This Video
Energy change and consumption can happen many ways; we feel there is a social imperative and joy in publishing one's own daily KWH. By sharing these numbers on a service like Twitter users can compete for the lowest numbers and also see how they're doing compared to their friends and followers.
Using "off-the-shelf hardware", we have modified a Kill-a-Watt(TM) power meter to "tweet" (publish wirelessly) the daily KWH consumed to the user's Twitter account (Cumulative Killowatt-hours). We are releasing this project as an "Open source hardware" project - in other words, anyone can make these, modify them and make a commercial product from the ideas and methods.
Here's how it works: The modified Kill-a-Watt uses a "super-cap" to slowly recharge itself. Once there is enough power it turns on the Xbee wireless module which transmits the data to a nearby computer (or internet connected microcontroller, like an Arduino). Once the power usage for the day is recorded it uses a predefined Twitter account (it can be your own) to publish your daily KWH consumption for the day. Multiple units can be used for an entire household.
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3 comments for "Twittering power meter".
1. interesting film , I can say
interesting film , I can say , but i am not so sure about the green thing...
Clay,
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poker bot that plays no limit poker
2. Not so Awesome Idea
Whether or not this trend catches on, we should look at the implications of this type of "social change" program to turn into something that tracks and reposts on all of your energy uses as an infringement on personal privacy. We could end up where every action we do becomes public knowledge for "the greater good." Then what happens to the individual? Instead of worrying about if we turned our bathroom light off before we left the house, we should be worrying about whether or not these green ideas are going against the Constitution.
3. Awesome idea
I think it's so cool that you've combined social networking with people's desire to 'go green.' I can see this becoming really popular, I know a lot of people who would love to brag about how much energy they're saving. How much would you see such a device costing?