Google is one of the hippest, fastest-growing companies in the world, and it wants next to take on companies that sound like some of the most boring.

The search giant's push into things like its PowerMeter software for home energy management indicates that it wants to get into the market for energy management systems, according to Jeff Platon, senior managing director at Cisco. It was part of a conversation we had last night during a panel sponsored by The TiE Foundation. Potentially, Google can exploit its massive data centers, back-end tools, cozy customer relationships and new bits of software to improve energy efficiency in buildings as well as provide continuous commissioning, i.e. building automation and management. EnerNoc just bought Cogent Energy today to delve deeper into building management and commissioning.

Google will also soon invest in clean power plants.

Ed Lu, who runs advanced projects at Google, says PowerMeter and other similar projects are charitable efforts largely for the sake of we humans.

"We are not trying to build a business model around it," he said. Tiny Tim and I thank you for your generosity and hospitality, Guv'nor, but sometimes fun projects turn into big businesses so we will hold our breath. Maybe make it knuckle gloves instead.

In fact, energy services already is a big business. Siemens, Johnson Controls, Honeywell and others garner billions from acting as energy services companies, or ESCOs. Google could become a big threat in that market. Revenue in most contracts is a function of some sort of how much energy gets saved compared to a goal or past consumption.

Of course, it could also change Google's image. When was the last time you bragged about knowing someone that worked at Johnson Controls? Or read about employees scurrying around on Hoppity Hops at the headquarters of Bentley Systems? Will analysts pontificate about "Does Google have TOO much control over air conditioners?"

ESCOs do great work, but the pick-up potential is low.