Last week Microsoft was in the eco-news because Windows 7 will aid you in your quest for a more energy-efficient computer, this week it’s the launch of Microsoft Hohm, a website devoted to helping you reduce your energy consumption in your home (which will have nice perks for the environment and your bank account), and right now anyone in American can access the site in its beta stage (over time it may turn into a for-free service, so it’s worth checking out right away).

To help Hohm figure out where you could be reducing your energy consumption, you’ll participate in something akin to a home energy audit on the website, where you can answer over a hundred questions about your home if you choose (or if your energy provider has partnered with Microsoft already, you can upload your data through them). Hohm then uses models licensed from the Department of Energy and Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory to assess your situation, along with years of data, and provide the appropriate tips. The savings you can expect through the tips aren’t astronomical—an estimated 5 to 10 percent depending on how much of Hohm’s advice you follow—and are similar to the advice you’d get from a home auditer (like replacing a thermostat or buying a new refrigerator), but the ease of use with Hohm could be a great motivator in getting more Americans to take the time to assess their energy use.

While Microsoft may be the first to launch a full-scale home energy monitoring system, they won’t be the only ones. A range of other companies, including Google and Verizon, are at work on similar systems. By getting a jump on the competition, however, Microsoft may have given Hohm an advantage. Hohm may also be greener than other monitoring systems in terms of the software itself, as it’s running on Azure, Microsoft’s cloud computing software control system, which is reportedly more energy efficient than standard web hosting.

If you want to makeover your home with Hohm, you can head here to request access (you’ll need to provide your e-mail address).

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