Agilewaves

Automated home energy monitoring and controls are usually reserved for multimillion-dollar dwellings. But high energy costs and the threat of climate change are encouraging companies to tailor services to the mass market.

New tools to display residential energy use and help trim utility bills include sophisticated online interfaces integrated within electric meters to glowing orbs and $25 smart power strips.

Start-up Agilewaves' Resource Monitor hooks up to household meters and displays the electricity, water, and gas spent down to the floor, room, or appliance. Users can log onto a Web page to view the carbon footprint and costs. The Resource Monitor costs between $5,000 and $15,000 and is being used in seven homes. In April, the company launched a system to monitor a living roof at a California elementary school.

"The market is very new, and the technology is new," said CEO Peter Sharer. "My hope is that, in the future, every home has a monitoring dashboard available because homeowners cannot afford to use those resources blindly like we do now."

The company is exploring the potential of hooking up home devices wirelessly via a mesh network. Sharer said he sees value in partnering with utilities. The Menlo Park, Calif.-based company is seeking venture funding.