Google PowerMeter

Google’s PowerMeter, which will enable consumers to see how much energy they’re using, is one of the best home automation ideas to come along in a long time. Although still being put through its paces by Google employees, PowerMeter may allow users to cut their power usage by up to 15 percent, a green benefit that transcends the Prius crowd. Indeed, once people find out how much money their '80s-era Frigidaire is costing them, they’ll see the cost benefits of upgrading to a new, more energy-efficient model.

Google’s PowerMeter, on the other hand, has a very compelling proposition: It’ll save you money -- potentially a lot of money. True, the verdict is still out on how well it’ll work, but Google certainly has the resources to make PowerMeter a success. If the software works as advertised, we’ll likely see a sales surge of smart utility meters and thermostats, two energy-saving products that exist today.

But with Google bringing its star power to the sector, there’s a good chance that home automation may finally go mainstream. For years, the problem with home control hardware was that regular folks just didn’t see the benefits. Lights that automatically turn on and off? A microwave that starts five minutes before I get home? Yawn. The benefits didn’t outweigh the costs.