Microsoft Hohm SDK is available to third parties, first devices to hit this summer
By Paul Miller 
posted February 25th 2010 9:41PM
posted February 25th 2010 9:41PM
There are already plenty of solutions for monitoring your power consumption, particularly with Google's relatively recent PowerMeter ecosystem, but if you want to do things the Microsoft way, Microsoft's Hohm is about to get third party device friendly. An SDK has been recently released to manufacturers, and we're supposed to expect the first compatible products by the summer. Interestingly, Microsoft has also mentioned that it "might" even get into the game of energy hardware at some point. The end game is to feed back information and control to utilities to be able to load balance energy demand (charging up that fancy electric car of yours overnight instead of at 7pm, for instance), though that sort advance might be as much as a decade out.
(charging up that fancy electric car of yours overnight instead of at 7pm, for instance)
I didn't get one of those. Did anyone else get one of those!?!
How do you pronounce this? I don't even...
@tkrow21 pronounced like home. MS getting into the Energy game too huh?
@tkrow21 it should be pronounced "home"
but of course, the electrical reference "ohm" so its "h-ohm"
@kamikazeshrimpy Makes sense.
"Hohm"
My, that is clever. They even have the Omega symbol as the 'o' in in 'hohm.'
Bravo on the name. That really is quite ingenious.
@Prevacator
I though the name was very ho-hum
@Prevacator: Yeah, the first time I heard of Hohm, I thought that was clever too.
If just only ALL of Microsoft could come up with good names. Take "Windows Phone 7 Series" for instance...
clever name, now fix "Windows Phone 7 Series"
@JeremyBenthem
I skimmed this article in my RSS feeds and saw MS and SDK in the same title and got all excited. Now I'm sad again.
@Delta what SDK are you looking for?
@JeremyBenthem
most likely Windows Phone 7 SDK
@lennie22
it'll probably come as an update to Visual C# Express
This is positive proof that Steve Ballmer suffers from dementia. There are similar initiatives from several Chinese companies, and only a crazy fool would think that China is going to license a chip or software from Microsoft to accomplish the same thing. What is the point of this Mr. Ballmer?
@Ed T Do you see how is on stage? That man has gone into Mad Hatter territory.
im sorry? what does this mean? i really dont understand anything but microsoft on this artcile!
I would guess the end game might be about tying power consumption to specific uses so they can structure their rates and nickle and dime consumers more.
So it cost x dollars/watt to turn the lights on but 3x dollars/watt to charge your car.
A utility doesn't need to know anything about what I am doing with my electricity. Just give me the rates at different times and I can schedule things myself...
Though it would surely be nice to have all that meta info at my own fingertips and control.
Hohm beta? Are you kidding me. Does Microsoft have to steal everything from Sony? Home Beta is a 3D social interaction environment. Hohm Beta and Home Beta. Clever Guys, real clever.
@SOOPERGOOMAN hahahah downranked into oblivion. Microsoft Fanboys. Ha, get some originality. Ima tweet Big Bill himself on this one.
I hate to be late to this game, but I've never heard of this Microsoft program/product thing, and I love the name. That's just too clever. How did they get that wonderful name?
@izikavazo
Yes, it's almost as clever as the SPOT watch. My guess is it will earn the same amount of profits for MSFT shareholders. Steve Ballmer is da Man!
I beta tested this product a few months ago. Here's the basics.
User signs up and inputs data about their home. Questions include things like address, square footage, number and facing of windows, furnace type whether you have a pool etc etc. This info is then put into a database. The local utility (Microsoft has a number of utility companies on board, mostly in the NW US IIRC) then provides a data feed of consumption into Hohm.
This combo of info then is used to provide the user with suggestions on how to save energy and money. For example, buying a new fridge will save x KwH/year and pay for itself in y years. You also get to see your estimated annual consumption and how it compares with others in your neighborhood. For example, you may be better than 80% of your neighbors in energy consumption.
I can't comment on Microsoft's future plans, but the big hurdle at this point is getting people to put their home info into the system. As smart grids and appliances become more common some of this may be automated. At this time it is a decent first start for monitoring energy use (you need to visit a web site which is an active endeavor) and getting suggestions on how to save energy consumption.
Many utilities offer home or business energy audits that do part of what Hohm does at various costs. That may be a better option for many people who own older or less efficient homes.
I hope this helps explain the program and its goals.
@Angry Zebra You wanna save electricity and alot of it? Just insulate your water heater and then from spring till fall turn it on only for an hour a day for when you need the Hot water. Having to keep the thing heated when you are sleeping or while on vacation is just useless and a huge waste of electricity and your hard earned dollars. I do it and it saves me on average 200$/month. thats a Huge savings for 3/4 of the year. Pays for a tip to Cuba every year... Oh and you downrank me cause of the lack of creativity that is within microsoft and I'm the only one to point it out. PATHETIC!
@SOOPERGOOMAN
so I guess if I start a home care business called Home Beta Care (as a play on "better care"), then that means I'm following sony and being none original, right?
look at the freaking spelling of the name even with the omega/ohm sign to boot
@SOOPERGOOMAN
That's one of the questions/recommendations. My monthly bill is $50 so I won't be saving as much as you, but Hohm users could get an estimate on their costs/savings.
It sounds like you have a handle on your energy use so I doubt Hohm would be useful for you.
@SOOPERGOOMAN
I don't understand why my post doesn't show, but hopefully I'm not spamming.
It sounds like you know how to save money on energy consumption so don't need Hohm. Questions about the water heater, if it is insulated or not is in the app. It is also one of the recommendations with the estimated amount that user would save.
My monthly bill is $50 so savings $200/month would be great.