smart meters

Amid health concerns over smart meters, which can wirelessly transmit household energy-usage data to utilities and customers, California's largest utility has proposed a plan that would allow homeowners to opt for regular meters -- at a cost. Here are some facts for consumers to consider.

Despite promises of environmental benefits and lower costs to consumers, smart meters are running into stiff resistance in some areas where you'd least expect it. Among the concerns: More electromagnetic radiation and loss of privacy.

The emphasis in alternative energy used to be on new ways to generate power. Now, it's on finding better ways to conserve it and make the power grid more efficient. The so-called smart grid is key to that goal, and fortunes will be spent -- and made -- on making it a reality.

Just in time for the Copenhagen climate summit, Google (GOOG) is pushing the new PowerMeter software developed by the company's foundation, Google.org. The search company describes the tool by saying "Google PowerMeter is a free electricity usage monitoring tool that provides you with information...