The initial set of features for the app will allow users to:
- compare energy use to national averages on similar homes and among friends
- publish conversations about their energy use, savings tips, their rank and group participation in their Facebook newsfeed
- create and join groups to help each other achieve energy goals and compete against other groups for incentives from their utility providers or other sponsors
- automatically import energy usage data straight from their utility provider, as long as that provider is a partner.
- manually input energy usage data if their utility provider is not a partner
Some utility providers have already committed to letting their users automatically update their energy usage information into the app, including Commonwealth Edison, the city of Palo Alto in California, and Glendale Water and Power.
“Social networking represents the next frontier in delivering consumer energy savings. This application will give users the ability to share their personal energy use information with like-minded individuals—fostering more conversations about energy savings and engaging a broader segment of the population, one that may have had little interest in energy efficiency to date. This application is about giving consumers the information and motivation they need to use energy more efficiently,” said Dan Yates, the founder and CEO of Opower.
The app is looking to launch on Facebook in the early part of 2012. For more information about this app and other ways Facebook is looking to increase green awareness, you can look at their Green on Facebook page.
SOURCE: CNET, Facebook, Opower
PHOTOSOURCE: Opower
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