How to Choose a Home Energy Monitor

Concern for the environment and pocketbooks are causing more to monitor home energy. The need for these home energy monitors is genuine. There are numerous ways to monitor home energy use. Home energy consumption is reduced when people are seeing their consumption as they consume. Choosing a home energy monitor can be a task. Home energy monitors have different features and applications. So which one should you get? This depends on what exactly you need out of your home energy monitor and how much you are willing to spend. An overview of several home energy monitors may help in your quest.

Kill-A-Watt

This home energy monitor measures electricity on an individual appliance. This energy monitor measures voltage, amps, and line frequency, as well as Kilowatt hours. It's simple to install as you plug it to an outlet and plug the appliance to your wall. The large LCD display is easy to read, and you change the measurements with a quick push of a button. At a retail cost of $25.00 you don't get many extras. You do get the basics needed for a good home energy monitor.

Kill-A-Watt EZ

Another version of the Kill-A-Watt this home energy monitor has only one discernible difference. You can insert how much you are charged per Kilowatt hour. This allows the home energy monitor to determine and forecast costs. The retail price on this model will put you back $50.00.

Watt's Up Pro

Here is a home energy monitor a little different from many on the market. It is a monitor like the Kill-A-Watt in that you simply plug it into the device you are measuring. The primary difference is it's a hand held device that logs all data within the device. It also has Windows compatible analytical software and can measure RMS (root mean square) voltage. This software calculates how long it will take a new more energy efficient appliance to pay you back. According to Think Geek this is "perfect for IT managers, electricians, engineers, contractors and consumers". This is because of the automatic recording devices that are most likely unnecessary for a home energy monitor. The cost is a little steep for typical home energy monitor use at $130.00.

WATTSON 01

This model is sort of the Cadillac of home energy monitors. According to diykyoto.com it is a device that will monitor your entire home's energy use at once. It comes with software which will transmit all info to your computer for easy storage and comparison. Handy color coded lights display on the home energy monitor to inform you if you are using average, below average, or above average watts for your home. To measure an individual source you must turn it off and see how it affects the watts on your home energy monitor. The site claims it is simple to use and install as you attach a sensor to one of the electrical mains that lead from your fuse box to the meter box. It also states that in Sweden a qualified electrician must install it. It is championed as an attractive home energy model and it does appear sleek if this is important to you. If you want a Cadillac you have to pay for it and the Watson 01 is 99.95 Euros or about $149.

Power Cost Monitor

This is another home energy monitor that will track your entire home's energy use at once. The LCD display shows your Kilowatts per hour usage, cost per hour, peak consumption gage, signal and battery strength indicator, a gauge that simulates the spinning of your outside meter, and even the outdoor temperature. Installation is similar to the Wattson 01 though it comes with a video guide to installation. While the Wattson 01 may be the Cadillac of home energy monitoring devices this may be the most value for your money coming in at $146.00. For more information on this device see powermeterstore.com.

More on choosing a home energy monitor

Choosing a home energy monitor does take some research. I have found that for the beginner who just wants to see what the biggest energy hogs are in his home a device such as the Kill -A -Watt works fine. Many of the extras on a home energy monitor are things such as predicted use and costs which can easily be calculated on your own. The home energy monitors which track the entire energy use of your home have an advantage in that they can measure things like ceiling fans and built in ceiling lights which have no outlets. The disadvantage of these that I have found is that you must unplug individual appliances in order to see how much of your total energy they are using. If you have your own renewable energy source a home energy monitor which measures your total wattage of your home is essential.