The Facebook utility usage function is a social media application that puts one's energy consumption on blast by sharing it with friends and family across the Internet.

Facebook, the Natural Resources Defense Council and energy information software maker Opower created the app to allow users to compare their energy usage with others and see how efficient and eco-friendly their home is.

Each month, the amount of energy consumed by the user is posted to their Facebook profile and can then be compared to the consumption of friends, family and other homes in the person's area.

So far the providers that have joined in are the National Grid in New York and Massachusetts, Austin Utilities in Minnesota and City of Palo Alto Utilities in California.

The utility usage function on Facebook acts as a virtual competition to decrease energy consumption and become the most efficient home in one's social media network.