Silicon Valley area residents can tap into the power of the Web for energy efficiency help through Silicon Valley Power’s (www.siliconvalleypower.com) new HomeEnergySuite -- a robust set of online energy conservation tools developed by APOGEE Interactive, Inc. and recently added to SVP’s Website.
In an age where television sets outnumber people in the average American home -- and home computers following suit -- SVP customers can evaluate their home and appliance energy use online in seconds using interactive calculators featured in APOGEE’s HomeEnergySuite.
Residents can quickly see what it costs to operate each type and size TV set, how much they can save with each compact fluorescent bulb, and the specific energy costs for nearly 50 other appliances and electronic devices. Customers can also “walk through” an interactive house to learn how to conserve energy in each area of the home.
“Our customers tend to have a high comfort level with computers,” said Joyce Kinnear, public benefit program manager for Silicon Valley Power. “It makes sense to offer a complete set of tools on our Website for our customers to use in managing their energy consumption, choices and costs.”
The Suite’s flagship tool, the HomeEnergyCalculator takes a few data inputs from the customer and produces a detailed evaluation of the home’s energy use in simple, colorful charts. Everything from big screen televisions and number of refrigerators to air conditioning settings and home construction are considered, producing a wealth of energy-saving tips tailored for that home and family’s lifestyle. Even swimming pool and spa energy consumption can be evaluated. Customers can then modify their data inputs to see the savings possible with various equipment or usage changes.
SVP also added APOGEE’s Kids Korner to its Website, an entertaining and educational interactive section for kids of all ages, and the HomeEnergyLibrary, an extensive knowledge base covering all aspects of residential energy systems and efficiency.
