Cisco develop tablet with a home energy management system, using Linux

Home energy management systems are more than just eye-candy for your home that you set up to make your starry eyed neighbor go all green with envy. Speaking about green, these systems sure help keep electricity bills short and brief, and help us stay informed with just how much energy we use, decreasing carbon footprints and strain on electricity grids. Cisco recently came up with an Android tablet this week that works as a table top home energy management system. Using a 7-inch, 800 x 480 capacitive touch screen, this one’s powered by Ubuntu Linux for MID on a 1.1GHz Intel Atom chip. With an 802.11n WiFi or gigabit Ethernet using protocols, you can hook this one up with smart thermostats and appliances.

This tablet lets you control the amount of energy you use in your home and also plays the wise-old-man, advising you on ways to decrease your electricity usage. Cisco’s new baby, the Home Energy Controller could be yours for a hefty $900, but taken the money you’ll save on bills, it seems quite worth it!
[engadget]