ZeroFootPrint makes your wall sockets talk

ZeroFootPrint, maker of the so-called TalkingPlug that sits on top of regular electrical outlets and helps companies keep better track of their energy use and carbon emissions, says it will launch the product next week.

Containing an RFID chip, a microprocessor and chip for wireless networking, the plugs will be able to drill down into how much energy individual appliances (plugged into the outlets in question) are using. Users will also be able to remotely control their devices via the TalkingPlugs because they are programmable.

To optimize use of TalkingPlugs, homeowners and companies are told to install many of them at once, allowing them to cast a mesh network of information over the entire space. This data is sent to its web-based interface where users can view how much electricity they are using, how they are using it, and how their consumption compares to that of others. This strategy might get a bit costly for average homeowners, with the price tag estimated at $50 per plug, although that could drop if the company starts making them en masse.

Right now, the company, based in Toronto, is recruiting companies interested in trying the product out, and determining how it will impact their employees' behavior and ultimately their electricity bills.

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