Seattle City Light customers who use Microsoft’s free online energy-saving application called Hohm now have several new enhancements that make it easier to track energy use, find ways to conserve electricity and reduce utility bills.
City Light was one of four utilities that worked with Microsoft Hohm as launch partners last year. In October, City Light became the first utility to announce a link for customers to automatically download their energy usage information directly into Hohm.
The new additions and improvements to the application include an advanced lighting calculator, a new energy use analysis page, improved charting and support for tankless water heaters.
On the home page of Microsoft Hohm, users will see a breakdown of energy costs for a typical home in their area.
Users will also be offered top energy saving tips for their region with corresponding environmental impact. And they can receive a relevant energy breakdown by answering just 1-3 questions on the home page.
With a Hohm profile, users are provided an enhanced breakdown of their home energy use, which reflects how their specific appliances and home infrastructure affect their energy costs. For example, users can see how much energy they use — and money they spend — by drying clothes in the dryer instead of using a clothesline.
Microsoft also added quick and low-cost tips to save energy to help users get started today. Visit Hohm at http://www.microsoft-hohm.com/