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Ontario wants electricity consumers to PUSH the Green Button
November 21, 2012 - The Ontario Government aims to provide electricity consumers with greater access to information about their energy consumption and encourage the creation of “new, innovative tools for consumers to help conserve energy and save on electricity costs” via the Green Button initiative.
November 21, 2012 By Anthony Capkun
A working group led by the province and the MaRS Discovery District will explore the initiative, which would use smart grid technology to give families and businesses direct access to their own energy data through a secure download from their utility’s website. A standard data format for Ontario’s utilities would also encourage app developers to create new tools to help Ontarians manage their energy use from their computers and smart devices, adds the government.
“Through our working group to increase access to energy data, MaRS and the Ministry of Energy are opening the doors to innovative, new solutions that will drive conservation and consumer energy literacy, while positioning Ontario at the forefront of the global convergence of IT and energy,” said Dr. Ilse Treurnicht, CEO, MaRS Discovery District.
Joe Greenwood, program director of MaRS Data Catalyst, believes smarter use of energy data will help accelerate the market for energy management solutions, providing a choice of tools to consumers and enabling Ontario companies to capitalize on this growing global opportunity.
“Data is as essential to today’s economy as energy, and its effective use is critical to driving innovation and economic growth,” Greenwood said. “Ontario’s investment in the smart grid has established us as leaders in this sector. This initiative will allow us to build on that momentum.”
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