Saving One Terawatt Hour of Energy by 2012

Company projects that it will take 100,000 homes “off the grid” permanently by 2012

Opower, the home energy management software company, today announced that its software platform will help US consumers save one terawatt hour of energy by the end of 2012 – the equivalent of taking 100,000 average US homes “off the grid” for a full year.

 Moreover, the company’s energy savings rate—which has been increasing exponentially since its first energy management program launched in 2007—will be high enough at end of 2012 to keep those homes off the grid permanently. Upon the achievement of its goal, Opower’s energy savings rate will surpass the rate at which power is generated by the entire US solar industry.

“Energy efficiency is a great resource to reduce pollution and our dependence on foreign energy resources. Our research has shown that giving people information allows them to take control and save energy and money.”

.Opower announced its Terawatt Hour savings goal with the launch of a new company website (opower.com). The site offers a rich visual environment where utilities, regulators, and consumers can track the impact of Opower’s energy savings driven to date. One terawatt hour of energy is equivalent to:

•Enough energy to power 100,000 average US homes for a year;

•Abating the carbon dioxide produced by 100,000 cars in a year, 11,000 cross-country flights;

•Abating enough carbon dioxide to approximate the creation of 6,500 acres of rainforest;

•Saving US consumers more than $100 million on energy bills.

Currently, Opower is more than a third of the way toward its goal, having saved more than 380 million kilowatt hours of energy through more than 30 live utility deployments.

In addition, the company announced the release of a new report by The Brattle Group outlining best practices in measuring the impact of informational-based energy management (IBEM) programs (such as Opower). Recognizing the potential for information-based programs to drive large-scale gains in energy efficiency, The Brattle Group report outlines statistically rigorous measurement and verification guidelines for utilities and regulatory agencies to use in determining the actual impact of information-based programs.

Opower’s measurement methodology and program results have been independently measured and verified by leading industry analysts and non-profit organizations, including the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), The Brattle Group, Navigant Consulting, Power Systems Engineering, KEMA, the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), and established academics from several leading institutions. The company’s measurement protocols follow the guidelines specified by Public Utility Commissions across the country, including the California PUC’s Measurement & Verification Guidelines and EPA’s National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency (NAPEE) guidelines.

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To see the latest energy savings driven by the Opower platform, please visit opower.com

Tags: energy efficiency, energy reduction, saving energy

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