energy monitoring devices

[michael_JCWS]

having been sucked in by the E.ON advert I thought I'd get an energy monitoring device, to see just how much things are costing
something like this:
http://www.earthwhile.co.uk/Shop/Energy_Saving_Dev...

Has anyone got any experience with these type of things ? I'm guessing by the way they work there is nothing that does combined electricity and gas ?

cheers

Michael

[Parrot of Doom]

They can be helpful but in reality it isn't difficult to calculate the cost of devices yourself. Every device connected to the mains should have power consumption displayed on the back, measured in watts.

As for gas, theres a big rotating number on your meter that tells all.

[HiRich]

The problem (or not) with that type of device is that it's taking a total reading for your house, rather than specific devices. The alternative, or addition, might be a plug-in device.

The latter's good for identifying single items that are a problem - items that are on unecessarily, or items with a high standby wattage. Plug it in, get a power rating, then (from your bill) get a the energy cost and calculate the annual cost. Someone on here did a little spreadsheet (item, power x usage = unnecessary cost per annum). Think of it as the "research tool" to get a set of spedific measurements. It also only works with plugged devices, not permanently wired items.

The latter is perhaps more of a monitoring device - if the wife is constantly leaving the lights on, the device flags she's costing you a pound per day or whatever.

I've used the plug-in, and found some 40W of items that didn't need to be on permanently (some were being switched off anyway, but it's still nice to know how much money I'm already saving for the effort of pressing a switch or pullling a plug). The way my brain works, the monitor wouldn't help, but it might suit you.

As for gas, I think you're going to need a torch and a spreadsheet, and record the meter reading every week. Record a few other things (outside temp, how many baths, how long the heating was on?).

[Torquey]

Bought one of these about 2 months ago
I did think of buying one of the plug in type instead but quite glad I got this (dont think I could be bothered to go around unpluggin things etc).

I'd say it was certainly worth the money (£29 from Tesco's IIRC) or ideally borrow one for a week. I use it less than I did but still catch glimps of it when its showing higher than normal.

You quickly learn what to avoid using so much in your house e.g - plug in electric heaters are damn expensive. Security lights can be expensive if they are on coninually on a windy night. And the less time you spend boiling the kettle the better.

[tom g]

I bought one, works well, but I'm constantly having to change the piddly AAA batteries, grrr. not very "green"

ETA, they don;t stop your missus leaving all the lights and heating on all the time.

Edited by tom g on Monday 19th January 14:07

[Richjam]

Got one free with southern electric when i transferred to them. Certainly makes you a bit more conscious of what uses the most power so far although my electricity has gone up 29% my bill is still roughly the same so must be doing something right.