Jan 22 2010

The Green Seen

Posted by: Leonard Anderson

Several items relating to the business and technology of clean energy and the environment caught our attention this week:

Software giant Oracle is eying smart water meters to help consumers save water and prevent projected shortages. Much like gas and electric smart meters, a water meter could deliver real-time information on consumption through a video display, and water districts could get information on leaks. The company now sells software and services to water districts as well as gas and electric utilities and sees a potential market in water meters. IBM also is looking at the water market. 

More smart news: Apple has applied for two patents that could lead to a smart home energy system to connect and manage power consumption in devices such as computers, printers, iPods and iPhones, using a home's existing wiring. If it goes ahead, Apple would join companies such as Google, Microsoft, GE and Whirlpool developing tools to control electricity use.

Smart news for public transit riders: A study by the American Public Transportation Association finds that the average citizen who commutes to work via public transit saves $9,240 a year compared to commuting by car. The study compiled the average cost of taking public transit compared to costs of gas, tolls, parking, insurance and maintenance. Of the top 20 transit cities, New York was the No. 1 saver at $13,765, Boston second at $12,362 and San Francisco in third place at $12,156.

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