Facebook has joined PG&E, City of Palo Alto Utilities and 14 other utilities around the country on an app designed to promote energy conservation by making it a social networking conversation - or a friendly competition - among friends.
The "social energy app" pulls in energy usage data from a Facebook member's own utility bill. The member signs in through Facebook, and can chose to voluntarily share the data on the social network to see how they rank against their friends on an energy usage "leader board."
The app can also be used to create groups that can compete against each other to see which one reduces its consumption most in a month.
The idea is to get more people talking about energy conservation and get motivated to take action, Facebook corporate sustainability leader Marcy Scott Lynn said during a media demo of the app.
"We're using old- fashioned word of mouth to ultimately reduce everyone's energy footprint," she said.
Facebook developed the app with OPower, an Arlington, Va., company that is behind the graphical home energy reports that PG&E customers already receive, and the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council.
The app is available at social.opower.com.
This article appeared on page D - 2 of the San Francisco Chronicle
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