MeterPlug - $59.95 [ Link ]
One of the newest energy monitoring systems, and looking to be the easiest to install and use, is MeterPlug, a crowd-sourced Kickstarter project that has far exceeded its fundraising goals. The people behind the project expect to start shipping the device in April 2013.
You plug any lamp or appliance into a MeterPlug — you use one MeterPlug per device. It then sends details about both electrical consumption and the cost of that consumption to your iPhone or Android phone. It knows the cost of your electricity because the mobile app references a database of power costs in different specific areas in multiple countries.
MeterPlug also does a neat trick: You can set it to turn off appliances that are using electricity while not being used, which is a common problem. The manufacturers claim that a game console like an Xbox 360 can cost you $220 per year from electricity use while the device is not being used. If that's true, and you have a game console, then the MeterPlug could pay for itself in a few months of use.
You can also have it automatically turn on or off depending on whether or not you're nearby. And you can cut power by using the app on your phone. Just turn off devices manually from the app or schedule when they go on or off.
You can monitor and control multiple devices at the same time in your app. Or you can plug a power strip into a MeterPlug and control everything plugged into that power strip.
MeterPlug
You plug any lamp or appliance into a MeterPlug — you use one MeterPlug per device. It then sends details about both electrical consumption and the cost of that consumption to your iPhone or Android phone. It knows the cost of your electricity because the mobile app references a database of power costs in different specific areas in multiple countries.
MeterPlug also does a neat trick: You can set it to turn off appliances that are using electricity while not being used, which is a common problem. The manufacturers claim that a game console like an Xbox 360 can cost you $220 per year from electricity use while the device is not being used. If that's true, and you have a game console, then the MeterPlug could pay for itself in a few months of use.
You can also have it automatically turn on or off depending on whether or not you're nearby. And you can cut power by using the app on your phone. Just turn off devices manually from the app or schedule when they go on or off.
You can monitor and control multiple devices at the same time in your app. Or you can plug a power strip into a MeterPlug and control everything plugged into that power strip.
TED 5000-C Electricity Monitor - $239.95 [ Link ]
TED stands for The Electricity Detective. It comes with two current transformers that clamp around incoming power lines, plus a wireless transmitter that relays information to software for analysis. The system offers several options for monitoring and control. For example, you can use something called the TED Advisor, which lets you set various parameters to be notified about. You can even keep track of a running estimate about what your bill will be.
An optional wireless portable display can alert you to "phantom loads" as well as monitor the power usage of the various electrical gadgets and appliances in your home. Third-party software enables you to track electrical usage with a PC, tablet or phone, supporting iOS, Android and Blackberry mobile devices as well as browser plug-ins for monitoring and controlling using a web browser.
Actual usage and cost estimates are updated every 10 minutes, if you care to check that often. And best of all, TED lets you tweak and refine your power usage to save a lot of money.
TED 5000-C Electricity Monitor
An optional wireless portable display can alert you to "phantom loads" as well as monitor the power usage of the various electrical gadgets and appliances in your home. Third-party software enables you to track electrical usage with a PC, tablet or phone, supporting iOS, Android and Blackberry mobile devices as well as browser plug-ins for monitoring and controlling using a web browser.
Actual usage and cost estimates are updated every 10 minutes, if you care to check that often. And best of all, TED lets you tweak and refine your power usage to save a lot of money.
GE Nucleus Home Manager [ Link ]
GE offers something called the Nucleus home manager, which is a device that connects to a smart meter and lets you manage and control home power usage. (Note that an AMI Zigbee Smart Energy meter is required. Ask your electricity provider if it supports this.)
The system can feed real-time monitoring and control to a special PC application or iPhone app. It lets you do your own home energy audits and check how adjusting the thermostat or running appliances at different times of day can save electricity and money.
If you use a separate GE smart thermostat, you can even program heating and cooling to take place at specific times of day — for example, turning the heat down low until a half hour before you get up in the morning.
Nucleus home products are sold only by local utilities, and prices vary.
These are three very different options for monitoring and controlling home power usage. The important thing is that you find the solution that suits you best and that lets you see how much power you use — and how much you can save — by making small adjustments in how and when you use home gadgets and appliances.
GE Nucleus Home Manager
The system can feed real-time monitoring and control to a special PC application or iPhone app. It lets you do your own home energy audits and check how adjusting the thermostat or running appliances at different times of day can save electricity and money.
If you use a separate GE smart thermostat, you can even program heating and cooling to take place at specific times of day — for example, turning the heat down low until a half hour before you get up in the morning.
Nucleus home products are sold only by local utilities, and prices vary.
These are three very different options for monitoring and controlling home power usage. The important thing is that you find the solution that suits you best and that lets you see how much power you use — and how much you can save — by making small adjustments in how and when you use home gadgets and appliances.
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We don't have a ton of money, but little by little we are becoming more self sufficient, and the payoff is HUGE. We have solar panels running both tv's, the lamps in my living room, and my husband's computer. That reduced our bill drastically.
People think you need heavy duty, solar panels costing thousands of dollars...(a handy hubby helps), but our solar panels cost $150 on sale. We run the most used items, and I found this made a big difference on our bill. Just a bit of research on youtube and there is so much one can do to reduce comsumption. It helps, especially when the hydro companies aren't. Our rates seem to raise constantly.
For a family of 7, we have reduced our hydro bill from $280 every two months, to about $190 or so. Baby steps, little by little we do what we can afford, but believe me every little bit is well worth it in the long run.
eMonitor
This is a great product not mentioned. I have one in my home and it has saved me thousands. The detail of the information gatherer is great. I was able to show the service tech of my new heat pump the change in energy consumption. (An intermittent issue) He was ready to pat me on the head and say it will be fine. After show him the data he looked again and found an $1,800 repair that the warrant covered. The eMonitor has saved me money in to many ways to mention. Well worth the high price.
Maybe $50 and the cost of the electrician, although a decent DIY homeowner can easily install one.
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A similar device for an electric dryer can keep your kids from running up the electric bill by drying "just one outfit" for school when the rates are highest.
We have batteries attached, so even on a cloudy day, we have enough stored power to take us through the night.
@mamavenus: We also unplugg everything, even the microwave. That tip we got from an Oprah episode...lol. But really...it works! And makes a difference!
http://www.check-it.ca/site/index.html
And @ Colleen...thanks for the tip. I am definetely going to check that out.
The web page for controlling the Cloogy still needs some work.
The older meters typixcally with age slow down and become "less" accurate thereby potentially a lower bill, this is ion theory. The "Smart Meters" are just that, smart and they onlky benefit the utility company, not the customer. Your bill will soar, there is a potential for loss of privacy through usage monitoring and specifically the ability to detect what sort of device is being used... Be it a vibrator or kitchen mixer, who wants to have the possibility of handing over what you do in your home to an outside entity. But outside of being suspected of throwing conspiracy theories out there what really hits you is your pockets. Pay up, its going to cost you now.... Besides that when you become delinquent on your bill and are unable to pay it on time. Guess what, they cut you off through thier comoputer system without having to come to your home in this day and age of modern convenience.
When I hear about how a new product is going to serve me and make my life better you can bet I take the time to examine if it will be true for me, I believe less what Im told. After all who knows better than you. Yes a modern convenience "Smart Meters are changing your life the Utilities are going to lay off those people they dont need to employ suck as meter readers and we all benifit and pay more for it.