The document describes using a Raspberry Pi to track electricity usage from an Owl Intuition sensor in order to be notified of usage and analyze consumption data. A Python program interfaces with the sensor to collect usage data and send email notifications. The solution could be used in a school project to track building usage, identify high-demand times, calculate cost and carbon savings from reduced consumption, and teach programming with the Raspberry Pi.

1. Using the...
RaspberryPi and the
Owl Intuition Solution to
Track Electricity Usage
A PiFan Project

2. The Problem Statement
● Large bills
– £486.97 in 6 months!
● How do I track usage?
– Meter is outside.... not a simple solution
– Bills are quarterly/half-yearly.... too slow

3. Copied from www.theowl.com
The Owl Intuition Solution
● Always on
● Enables
– Tracking of usage
– Data collection
– Download of data
– Online graphs
– Great for analysis
● Great solution.... but I still need to go look at the usage
– I want to be notified

4. Solution Options
● Buy another electricity sensor
– :( I like the owl solution it works well
● Write a program on windows laptop to interface to Owl?
– It'll crash after a week :( blue screen, etc
– Not a windows programmer – how do I send mail or even get a compiler?
● Write a program on Linux laptop to interface to Owl?
– Better, but my laptop uses lots of power – kinda self-defeating
● Use the Pi!
– Low power
– Linux based
– Easy coding

5. The Solution The Owl Website
(for Config)
The Owl Sensor The Owl Sensor
The RaspberryPi
Transmitter Receiver

6. The Solution Explained
The Internet

7. The Python Program on the RaspberryPi
● Written in Python to make it easier for the Pi
Community to use
● Instructions to interface kindly supplied by Owl
manufacturers
– Based on IP Multicast
● Email achieved using Sendmail
● Solution works nicely
● Program listing available here:
http://www.raspberrypiusers.com/?p=7484

8. School Project Idea
● There must be a link between:
– Eco-schools
– Computing
– Cost-savings
– Electricity
● Link school power usage profiles and share tips
– Calculate cost and profile of electricity usage, show effect of
switching off lights
– Show the impact on the environment
– How many carbon tonnes of trees does the school use?
– How many trees need planting to offset (5 per tonne per year)?
● Demonstrate Programming on the Pi or other computer

9. One Possible School Experiment Plan
● Monday ● Wednesday
– Hook up Owl Intuition & Pi to network – See if the electricity usage dropped
– Present to kids the effect of electricity use – Explain in terms of £ and trees
on the environment
– Highlight power used at night
● Tuesday ● Thursday
– Show kids the profile of Monday's – Review power usage again, plan to reduce
electricity usage for rest of day and night
– Identify peak times – Focus on the computing at work, show the
Pi, talk about how computers work and
– Explain the link of power usage at school, how the Pi is work
carbon offset and £ cost
● Talk about Python and
– Experiment by look around the school for Scratch Programming
items with power on
● Friday
– Review power usage and cost for the week
– See if the power usage has dropped per day
– Calculate £ savings if any
– Summarise how it all worked
– Show where to buy the Pi, Owl, etc – provide
leaflets for parents

10. One Possible School Experiment Plan
● Monday ● Wednesday
– Hook up Owl Intuition & Pi to network – See if the electricity usage dropped
– Present to kids the effect of electricity use – Explain in terms of £ and trees
on the environment
– Highlight power used at night
● Tuesday ● Thursday
– Show kids the profile of Monday's – Review power usage again, plan to reduce
electricity usage for rest of day and night
– Identify peak times – Focus on the computing at work, show the
Pi, talk about how computers work and
– Explain the link of power usage at school, how the Pi is work
carbon offset and £ cost
● Talk about Python and
– Experiment by look around the school for Scratch Programming
items with power on
● Friday
– Review power usage and cost for the week
– See if the power usage has dropped per day
– Calculate £ savings if any
– Summarise how it all worked
– Show where to buy the Pi, Owl, etc – provide
leaflets for parents

11. Information
● Contact: info@raspberrypiusers.com
● Python Program: www.raspberrypiusers.com
● Owl intuition electricity sensor: www.theowl.com
● Other points:
– This presentation was created on Linux using LibreOffice
– This slide deck and associated material is not affiliated with
raspberrypi.org, the RaspberryPi foundation or theowl.com in any
way
– PiFan created the Python program and has no prior Python
experience :D