Use An Energy Monitoring Device

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Quick Facts Affordability Cost Savings CO2 Reduction		Most households have a number of appliances and electronics that draw electricity around the clock. An energy-monitoring device lets you measure how much electricity is used by appliances or other devices in your home and track which devices are consuming power unnecessarily. Using this information to modify your usage can reduce your energy use and your power bill. Affordability Using an energy-monitoring device in your home is easy. Simply plug the portable meter into a wall socket and insert the plug for the electronic device or appliance that you wish to monitor. An energy-monitoring device costs around $30 to $40. Cost savings A monitoring device can only point you in the right direction. It's up to you to change the way you use electricity and upgrade to more efficient electric devices around the home. Changing your electronics use has the potential to save you $100 or more annually. Health & comfort Knowing how much energy is being consumed and by what makes it easier to reduce your energy use. Environmental considerations Switching to more energy efficient electronics habits can translate into reduced energy consumption, reducing the need for energy infrastructure and in some cases, leading to reductions in CO2 emissions.

What you need to know

• Just plug the device into the meter, plug the meter into the wall and read the display.
• You can see how many watts a device is drawing at any given moment or how many kWh (kilowatt hours) you've used since you turned it on.
• A monitor enables you to pinpoint which electronics are using the most power. It also allows you to calculate the hourly, daily, weekly, monthly or yearly costs for running an electronic device.
• Be aware that your energy rates can change, so be sure to regularly read your electric bill for your current rate and adjust your meter accordingly.
• The most important thing to keep in mind is that measuring your electricity usage is just the beginning. The real benefits begin when you reduce your usage by turning it off or buying greener electronics based on what your meter reveals.

Taking it further

• Buy and install a whole house meter. A whole house meter tells you how much energy your whole house is using at any given moment and how much you've used so far for the month – as well as how much it's costing you. These meters cost around $150.
• Check out the Buying Green Resources guide for more information.

FAQ

Is there any proof that monitoring your electricity usage will actually lead to lower energy costs?
Yes. A recent two-year study, funded by the Customer Energy Solutions Interest in Group, in conjunction with BC Hydro, Newfoundland Power, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN) Office of Energy Efficiency, found supporting evidence that real-time feedback of energy consumption has a direct relationship to energy conservation by the consumer. By using a whole house power meter, families in British Columbia that took part in the study reduced their electricity consumption by up to 9.3% during the winter peak. Participating families in Newfoundland and Labrador reduced their energy consumption on average by 18%.