University smart grid uses Facebook and Twitter

The University of Mississippi (UM) is working with SmartSynch Inc. of Jackson, Miss., on a smart metering project that will report the energy usage of campus buildings in real time via really simple syndication (RSS) and social networking tools like Facebook and Twitter , according to Smart Grid News .The smart grid infrastructure company will work with the university to set up a control panel or "dashboard" enabling school personnel to monitor, analyze, and report energy consumption.

Using data from SmartSynch’s smart meters, UM currently is monitoring electricity usage at several buildings. The system will permit university administrators to track building power use over time, compare building energy consumption, and review the impact of the weather on power usage.

The information will be stored for future analysis and comparisons and will be reported to the public via Facebook, Twitter, and RSS . Interested parties can receive mobile updates on their phones or log online to compare energy usage on a given building in real time. Students, faculty, and others who want to see the data will have to register with the university’s Green Initiative website.

Officials hope the smart meter data will reveal patterns of consumption and suggest ways to change behavior for energy savings.

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