A digital dashboard in the Petersons’ house
displays power usage information in dozens of
different ways—live household consumption and
production, stored backup power, and carbon emission
reductions translated into gallons of gasoline
and acres of trees saved each year. The dashboard
also allows the Petersons to program their home
thermostats to adjust the temperature by room, time
of day, and season. Since the project began in the
spring of 2008, the Petersons have been able to
reduce their electricity use by one-third.