Real-time Energy Monitoring

For the last few months, I’ve been looking for practical ways to become a smarter energy consumer. I’ve looked at lighting options and new products. I’ve looked at ways to measure the energy consumption of individual appliances, in an attempt to learn more about their energy cost. Now I want to understand how it all adds up in my home.

Whole house energy monitors provide up-to-the-minute information about your combined electricity use. They promise to provide the data you need to take money-saving action, before you’re hit with a big electric bill. Over time, you’re supposed to be able to learn about and adjust your patterns of daily use. A 2008 IDC study showed savings of 4-15% resulting from the heightened awareness from real-time energy displays. A few of today’s monitor manufacturers claim savings up to 20%.

I found two different types of whole house energy monitors on the market:

1. Monitors that attach to your outdoor electric meter
This type tracks the movement of the meter’s spinning disc or digital display, and transmits data back to a receiving device and/or personal computer. The setup sounds relatively easy, without wiring.

A popular example of this type is Blue Line’s PowerCost Monitor, which is priced around $275. The price includes the sensor that goes on your meter, a wireless display, and the wireless gateway for transmitting the data. Energy use can be displayed in kilowatt hours or actual cost. I’ve read some reports that local utility companies were offering this product at a drastically discounted cost, as low as $30. Check with your provider for any deals.

  
PowerCost Monitor attaches to your outdoor electric meter and feeds usage data to a display, (package $275)

PowerCost Monitor is compatible with Microsoft’s Hohm, a community site for smarter energy use and conservation. Hohm extends the usefulness of the PowerCost Monitor, allowing you to check your energy use from anywhere you have internet access. Microsoft is partnering with local providers, so you’ll need to check to see if your utility company is participating.

2. Monitors that wire into your home’s electrical panel
The other type of monitor wires directly into your home’s electrical panel and measures the flow of electricity through the main power lines. This data is transmitted back to a wireless display or computer-based monitoring application. This type requires a little more set up, but can be installed by anyone with basic handyman skills. If you’re unsure about your ability to wire this yourself, you’ll need a qualified electrician.

The Energy Detective (“TED”) offers a line of monitors, including the TED 5000 which is priced at $239. The TED 5000 package includes the components to wire into the panel, a transmitting unit, a receiving gateway that connects to your home network, a wireless display, and some very nice monitoring software for your personal computer. 

  
The TED 5000 wires into your electrical panel and transmits data to a display and your home computer ($239). The monitoring software shows your usage in kilowatt hours, actual cost, and estimated CO2 emissions. It also includes multiple views, including a dashboard, historical graphs, and real-time graphs in hour, minute, and second intervals.

The TED 5000 is compatible with Google PowerMeter. PowerMeter was developed by Google's philanthropic arm, Google.org, to help consumers track their home electricity usage. Like Microsoft Hohm, PowerMeter lets you check your current, daily, and monthly usage through a web browser from anywhere you have internet access.

Use the TED 5000 with Google PowerMeter to access your home data from anywhere
 

If you’re in the United Kingdom, check out the products by Efergy. Their Elite and E2 monitors offer much of the same functionality of the TED product, for between £40-50. However they are not compatible with Hohm or PowerMeter.

Spoiler Alert!
I actually purchased a TED 5000G last month. In the next few posts I’ll share that experience and my results so far.

Energized is an ongoing series following my education about living a more sustainable life.

As Vice President of frog’s Design Realization group, Collin works closely with our design and engineering teams to bring innovative ideas to market. With over 20 years of experience in both creative and engineering management, Collin brings focus and multi-disciplinary expertise to this critical phase of the delivery process. In 1996, Collin co-founded frog’s digital media group and has worked extensively with frog clientele in the USA, Europe, and India.