This document provides instructions for tweeting the energy usage data from a Current Cost meter using either Linux or Mac OS X. For Linux, it involves installing Ruby gems, running a daemon program to stream tweets. For Mac, it involves installing drivers, using Pachube to send the data and then tweet it, as the Ruby code did not work directly on Mac. The process involves setting up the meter, signing up for Pachube, downloading apps to send the data to Pachube and then tweet the readings.

1. Twitterplug How to Tweet the energy usage of your home of office with the Current Cost meter

2. What You Need Current Cost Meter ( http://www.currentcost.com ) Mac or Linux PC* *NB. Mac and Linux have different instructions

3. Linux Before we start you will need to install James Smith's ( http://www.floppy.org.uk ) rb232 Ruby gem ( http://github.com/Floppy/rb232/tree/master ) Then put your Current Cost meter together

4. Step Two Plug everything in an attach the clamps around a cable

5. Step Three Download James' daemon from here: http://github.com/Floppy/currentcost-daemon/tree/master

6. Step Four Run the program and watch your Tweets stream in

7. Mac OS X We couldn't get James' rb232 code to work, so we're going to go a different route... First install PL2302 drivers for your mac http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/drivers/pl2303usbtoserialdriver.html

8. Step Two Same as with Linux, plug everything in and attach the clamps

9. Step Three - Oops, A Problem Unfortunately, we couldn't get James' rb 232 code to work on OSX, but we found another way... The plan is to: Have the data sent off to Pachube (using a Pachube app) Have a script that will pull the data off Pachube and then post this on Twitter

10. Step Four Sign up to Pachube ( http://www.pachube.com ) Create a Feed

11. Step Five Download this app http://community.pachube.com/?q=node/100

12. And Finally Download and run this code http://gist.github.com/89139

13. Good luck, happy Twitterplugging and let us know how you get on [email_address] .com