NEC Keeps Tabs On Home Carbon Footprint

NEC has developed a new online service that is able to keep tabs on energy consumption in carbon-conscious households in a fun and non-threatening manner. Developed in partnership with major Internet provider BIGLOBE, the service is known as “Carbon Diet” and requires one to install a Wi-Fi-enabled device which is connected to the home circuit breaker, measuring power consumption through electric current sensors. This collected data will then be transferred to the home computer via a ZigBee wireless link, and subsequently to an online server for further processing. You can then log on to the Carbon Diet website to view your daily and hourly energy consumption, checking it out against other participating households in order to prick the conscience in your to turn off your LCD TV and not just put it in sleep mode whenever you go out of the house.