Google's new Energy Information service

[stephend]

"Google PowerMeter, now in prototype, will receive information from utility smart meters and energy management devices and provide anyone who signs up access to her home electricity consumption right on her iGoogle homepage."

http://www.google.org/powermeter/index.html

[damnager]

Stephend,
              can't remember who posted but the comment was "every search on google uses enough electricty to make a cup of tea" The actual amount is only half that  but still a lot. There is an article in Computer Weekly about Googles green effort http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2009/01/23/234410/google-invests-to-reduce-carbon-footprint.htm I wonder if they will post their usage 

Keith

[kristen]

"The actual amount is only half that but still a lot"

So how many watts is that then?  Seems an awful lot when scaled up to the number of searches per day that Google must get ...

[damnager]

Kristen,
           I suppose it depends on the size of the cup  From the article;
Last month reports surfaced that two searches on Google consumes the same amount of electricity as making a cup of tea.

Yet, one glance at Google's blogs on the subject gives the impression Google is a green champion. Its pledges include going carbon-free and the rapid improvement of its own datacentres, and the company is investing in green technologies.

I'm just the messenger 

Keith

[stephend]

The power and rate of growth required by modern data centers is frightening.  Microsoft, among others, has taken to using shipping containers filled with servers to grow their centers:  http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-10020902-75.html

"The trucks back 'em in, rack 'em, and stack 'em," Chief Software Architect Ray Ozzie told CNET News. And the containers remain sealed, Ozzie said. Once a certain number of servers in the container have failed, it will be pulled out and sent back to the manufacturer and a new container loaded in."

On the plus side they are tailor-making the servers to be as energy (read COST) efficient as possible by eliminating unnecessary bits.

[kristen]

"From the article;"

Sorry didn't intend to be shooting the messenger!

I had a look at the article too, it says:

" two searches on Google consumes the same amount of electricity as making a cup of tea."

but when you follow the reference that says:

"Two Google searches emit as much carbon dioxide as making a cup of tea."

not quite the same thing ...

... and they have included the cost of running YOUR computer, as well as Google's ...

... and the fact that Google dispute their figure as being 35 TIMES too large.   The truth is in there somewhere, but its a large differences to ignore.

[Rogier Noort]

and they have included the cost of running YOUR computer, as well as Google's

Indeed, it's a long way from your home (mine is in Rotterdam) to the Googleplex (Santa Clara County, Californië).

Anyhoo.., I do have a question.
What hardware is used for a program such as googles?
Is this (http://www.smartmeters.com/store.html) something I could use?
Doesn't seem to give very detailed information.

Thanks

Rogier