The new PowerMeter API (application programming interface) released by Google is designed to assist developers and manufacturers to build home energy monitoring devices. These devices will use Google's power monitoring tools.

The system places information taken from smart meters in the user’s home onto a dedicated iGoogle web page. The data provided includes graphs on use and waste.

Google hopes to build up an ‘ecosystem’ of developers that will supply information about energy efficiency to home users and businesses.

The company stressed that the underlying data model and accompanying protocols have been designed to give consumers access to their energy consumption while maintaining privacy and control over access to that information.

The technology was launched in the UK last year; the software tool is free and can be sourced through selected energy providers.