Energy Monitoring: Empowerment and Savings
It's not difficult to see the effects of electricity. After you flick the switch, the lights go on. It's much harder to understand how much electricity you are using at any given time. In the near future, you and your neighbors may be empowered to view detailed statistics relating to your energy use. This is valuable information; putting a numerical value to your electricity consumption makes it easier for you to reduce this figure. This reduction is good for the environment, reducing the quantity of greenhouse gases that go into the air. Best of all, each kilowatt you save also saves you money.
Utility companies have tried to make it easier for their customers to track their energy use. Many companies print this information on the monthly bills they send out, providing graphs that chart monthly consumption. This information is certainly useful, particularly when making a year-to-year comparison. For example: according to the Energy Information Administration, the average Texas household consumes 1,130 kilowatts of Texas energy each month. If you used that much a year ago, your bill will tell you how much of a difference your conservation efforts made.
Technology has improved greatly in the past ten years. It's now possible for residential electricity customers to receive real-time updates about their energy consumption. For the most part, it begins with a smarter electrical grid. These infrastructure improvements are being effected in many areas in the country, including in Texas. The smart electric grid provides far more feedback to utility companies and users than the old grid. Homeowners will, in the future, be able to see detailed energy usage graphs on the Web or receive updates via e-mail.
Parks Associates, a consumer research firm, recently released a study that shows how eager consumers are for this added measure of control. According to their findings, one-fifth of American energy customers are willing to pay as much as five or ten dollars to receive energy monitoring statistics on their smart phones.
Five or ten dollars a month might seem like a lot, but consider the possibilities. Everyone knows that leaving the air conditioner on too long is a waste of energy and money. If this knowledge were made concrete; if one could count each stray kilowatt, it might be much easier to find the motivation to get up and switch off the appliance. In fact, Parks Associates emphasizes that the small investment could result in savings of 10% off of your electric bill. That amount certainly adds up over time!
Before you can start up an app on your smart phone and check your use of electricity, you'll need to equip your home with a smart meter. These devices replace your old meters, allowing the utility to communicate much more easily with your home's electric system. This two-way communication works to your benefit as well, making it possible for you to monitor the juice you're using on a minute-to-minute basis.
What it all boils down to is information and empowerment. Unfortunately, there is a limit as to what your utility company can do for you. It's your job as a homeowner to take the steps necessary to make your living space more energy-efficient. Those year-to-year savings will become apparent after you take relatively simple steps. The Department of Energy emphasizes that heating and cooling account for between 50% and 70% of the energy used in your home. Installing the proper amount of insulation in your attic, for example, will keep conditioned air inside during the summer and heated air inside during the winter. If you keep tabs on your consumption, you will likely notice that year-to-year decrease and see a big chunk taken out of your electricity bill.
Sometime soon, you may have the opportunity to purchase a smart meter and sign up for advanced monitoring of your energy use. While the cost for the meter may be substantial and there may be a monthly charge for the service, these are actually powerful tools that will likely save you money over the long run. They're an investment in your home and in the environment that will help the United States greet a greener, brighter future.