Energy Efficient Choices

The only sure way of finding the power draw of appliances, electronic devices and computer peripherals is to test them right at the outlet. Once you know how much power is being used when devices are running, or deceivingly idle, you'll truly discover how much energy and money can be saved by replacing, unplugging or using a smart power strip to cut off any power to that item.

You can cut down on costs and find out what appliances are wasting too much power. Simply connect your appliances, stereos and computers to the Kill A Watt™ and it will let you know how efficient they really are.

For example, one source of power waste comes in the form of 'energy vampires'. These are all the large and small electronic devices you use that remain plugged in when not in use. Having performed many tests using the 'Kill-A-Watt' device, the following energy use data was assembled.

• Cell phone chargers and blue tooth headset chargers use virtually no power (less than 1 watt) when plugged in and not in use.
• Small to medium TV sets, along with any associated DVD or VCR player may use from 3 watts to 7 watts when not being used.
• Larger TV sets along with DVR's and DVD players may use from 12 to 20 watts when not in use.
• A standard set of mini Christmas lights uses 40 watts.
• A coffee pot with LCD clock that uses a carafe and does not maintain surface heat uses 1 watt when not in use.

By using the Kill-a-Watt Meter, we found that many of the smaller things that consume minor amounts of power, cost an average of $2.10 a year to operate at 12 cents per KWH. (e.g.. 2 watts wasted = 2 watts x 24 hrs x 365 days = 17520 watt hrs / 1000 = 17.52 KWH per year x .12 per KWH = $2.10) With this being the case, unplug these items if you wish, but don't purchase any special energy saving devices for these items individually since the amount of energy consumed to create the energy saving device will easily exceed what your item may use over several years.

The meter comes with a large LCD display that counts consumption by the KWH (Kilowatt-hour), just as your local utility does.

You can also monitor your voltage, HZ (hertz or line frequency) and power factor. By seeing if an appliance is drawing more power than it should, you'll know that item is getting old and needs to be replaced or repaired.

Make a choice now to Kill those wasted watts!