The Facebook Utility Usage Function Shares Power Consumption Online
Sarah Moore — April 4, 2012 — Eco
References: social.opower & news.yahoo
The Facebook utility usage function is a social media application that puts one's energy consumption on blast by sharing it with friends and family across the Internet.
Facebook, the Natural Resources Defense Council and energy information software maker Opower created the app to allow users to compare their energy usage with others and see how efficient and eco-friendly their home is.
Each month, the amount of energy consumed by the user is posted to their Facebook profile and can then be compared to the consumption of friends, family and other homes in the person's area.
So far the providers that have joined in are the National Grid in New York and Massachusetts, Austin Utilities in Minnesota and City of Palo Alto Utilities in California.
The utility usage function on Facebook acts as a virtual competition to decrease energy consumption and become the most efficient home in one's social media network.
Facebook, the Natural Resources Defense Council and energy information software maker Opower created the app to allow users to compare their energy usage with others and see how efficient and eco-friendly their home is.
Each month, the amount of energy consumed by the user is posted to their Facebook profile and can then be compared to the consumption of friends, family and other homes in the person's area.
So far the providers that have joined in are the National Grid in New York and Massachusetts, Austin Utilities in Minnesota and City of Palo Alto Utilities in California.
The utility usage function on Facebook acts as a virtual competition to decrease energy consumption and become the most efficient home in one's social media network.
Trend Themes
1. Social Energy Saving - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop a social energy saving app that allows users to compare and compete with their friends and family to decrease energy consumption.
2. Utility Usage Function - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create a utility usage function on social media platforms that shares real-time power consumption data with friends and family, encouraging energy efficiency.
3. Energy Consumption Comparison - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Build an app that enables users to compare their energy consumption with others in their area, fostering competition and driving eco-friendly habits.
Industry Implications
1. Social Media - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop energy saving features for social media platforms to promote eco-friendly behaviors among users.
2. Energy Information Software - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create software that enables users to track and analyze their energy consumption, encouraging mindful energy usage.
3. Utilities - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Collaborate with utility companies to develop apps and technologies that engage customers in energy-saving practices and promote sustainability.
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