Using Real-Time Feedback to Reduce Electricity Consumption

The objective in developing Using Real-Time Feedback to Reduce Electricity Consumption is to provide electric industry participants with an understanding of how to provide real-time feedback in order to change end-user behavior with regard to electricity usage. Most end-users are billed for their electricity usage once per month and that bill is the only insight they have into their consumption. While this billing structure has been used for decades, it does not allow end-users to understand when they are consuming the most electricity or what appliances or equipment have the highest load. In contrast, real-time feedback provides end-users with insight into when and how they use electricity, significantly improving their ability to control their consumption. When combined with price signals, real-time feedback can reduce peak demand and help utilities manage load. This report seeks to provide readers with an understanding of how real-time feedback can be provided and the impact it can have on electricity usage. The report aims to provide the reader with a thorough understanding of why real-time feedback is an important element in meeting the electric power needs of the 21st century, as well as highlighting the real-time feedback technology currently available. It also aims to provide an understanding of the impact that real-time feedback has had on electricity consumption in pilot programs.

List Price: $ 299.00
Price: $ 299.00

Blue Line BLI 28000 PowerCost Monitor Wirelessly monitor your home’s power consumption

wirelessly monitor your home’s energy consumption * see real-time data in dollars and kilowatt hours, including moment-to-moment consumption as well as cumulative totals * make smart, informed decisions about energy use in your home * track power consumption of individual appliances *

• wirelessly monitor your home’s energy consumption
• see real-time data in dollars and kilowatt hours, including moment-to-moment consumption as well as cumulative totals
• make smart, informed decisions about energy use in your home
• track power consumption of individual appliances

Rating: (out of 2 reviews)

List Price: $ 119.00
Price: $ 74.99

Blue Line BLI 28000 PowerCost Monitor Wirelessly monitor your home’s power consumption Reviews

Review by Alan:

I was skeptical about something like this at first. I wouldn’t have even thought about getting one until we had a very large bill for utilities last month. I decided that since the meter was less than what was wasted in electricity last month, it was probably worth it. And it was. Our utility company doesn’t print the cost per kwh on the bill so I got an education on just how high our electricity rates were compared to surrounding areas. After getting that initial kwh cost, setup was easy. I only needed a flat and a phillips screwdriver and I was done.

I was really surprised when someone in my home who always leaves the tv on and the lights on when they leave the room was walking around and seeing how much the meter changed when they turned things on and off. The education that electricity does cost money was worth it. If you’re trying to save the planet with this, then save your money and just shut everything off. If you’re trying to live life and save money for your family, this is a great buy.

Buy Blue Line BLI 28000 PowerCost Monitor Wirelessly monitor your home’s power consumption now for only $ 74.99!

Bye Bye Standby BBSBUSA Energy Saving Kit

Bye Bye Standby is a brand new energy saving solution designed to reduce the daily energy consumption of electrical devices. Bye Bye Standby works by completely cutting power to the devices plugged into it when they’re not in use, thus saving the power that these devices would otherwise have consumed in Standby Mode.

Bye Bye Standby is a new way to save energy, carbon emissions and money.The Bye Bye Standby Energy Saving Kit is a completely new way to reduce the energy consumed by electric devices in your home or office. Plug your computer, printer, or stereo into a Bye Bye Standby adapter and instantly save money on your electric bill. These smart devices will completely cut power to your gadgets when they are not in use, and you don’t have to unplug anything! There’s even a handy remote with a coding system that allows you to control multiple Bye Bye Standby modules. This kit includes two wall adapter sockets and a remote control. Bye Bye Standby offers:Elimination of phantom power to help save money.Included remote control that controls up to three zones.A one-year warranty.

A handy coding system allows one remote to control multiple outlets. View larger.

Bye Bye Standby lets you save money and protect the environment. View larger.Get Control of Your Gadgets
Bye Bye Standby is the perfect accessory for all of your appliances that have standby modes, such as your TV, printer, or wireless router. When you’re out on the town or asleep in bed, your appliances are sucking energy–even though they are not turned on. With Bye Bye Standby, you can put an end to this needless energy waste. Just press a single button on the included remote control to disconnect your stereo or other device from anywhere in the room–no more crawling around under desks and behind entertainment

• Fully cuts power to your electrical devices at the flick of a switch
• Reduces your monthly electric bill by turning off electrical devices left on standby
• Prevents the release of carbon emissions by shutting off appliances not in use
• Easy plug-in installation
• Includes convenient remote control of electrical devices

Rating: (out of 58 reviews)

List Price: $ 24.99
Price: $ 19.99

Bye Bye Standby BBSBUSA Energy Saving Kit Reviews

Review by Sherrye S. Fuentes:

I have had my Bye Bye Standby for several months and think it’s just GREAT. I only wish I could find additional outlet adapters to use with the remote control switch I got – it will accommodate up to three zones, but only comes with two outlet adapters. I am getting another set and will just keep one remote control upstairs and one downstairs for those nights I might forget to push the button before retiring. I need a couple more outlets so I can switch off my office equipment in one fell swoop. I haven’t actually measured how much energy I am saving, but I DO know that just powering off one printer alone will save 5-6 dollars a month, and we have 2 printers, 3 computers, and a fax. . We currently use BBSB to kill the juice going to the TV, VCR, & DVDs in two rooms, but can still leave the DVR on to record. It’s great and the remote works all over the house – I checked.

Review by A. Branson:

These things are great! I have purchased two sets, and have one remote at the front door, and one in the bedroom. The distance is pretty good, I tend to make sure I am close enough to hear the click sound made, when I turn things on and off. You can see that the remotes only have 3 switches on the front, but there is A/B/C/D on the back. On the units plugged into the wall, you select A-1/2/3 B-1/2/3 C-1/2/3 D-1/2/3, so by default you have have A set in the back and control three units, moving the back control to B allows you to control another set of three. I currently use it for my tv setup in the front, pc in the back, wireless router/internet box, and tv in back room.

This is the best power conservation hardware I could find, not to mention the awesome price. I know these will pay for themselves within a month or two!

Buy Bye Bye Standby BBSBUSA Energy Saving Kit now for only $ 19.99!

Energy Efficient Mini Bulb-Shaped Fluorescent Light Bulb

et all the light you’re accustomed to, yet only using one third of the energy! Conserving has never been easier than with these fluorescent light bulbs that are three times as efficient as standard, incandescent bulbs. Still, they emit a soft glow similar to that of incandescent lights, so your home won’t have that harsh, washed-out look. Average life span for these bulbs is 8,000 hours more than five times standard 1,500-hour incandescent bulbs. These are also among the few fluorescent light bulbs on the market that won’t cause problems with your X10 home automation system. The Smarthome technical staff has searched far and wide, high and low, and everywhere else in between for fluorescent bulbs that are X10-compatible, and these are among the very few that won’t inject any noise in or near the critical X10 zero crossing point. For X10 operation, we recommend using non-dimming appliance modules, like the ApplianceLinc, although lamp modules will work if they are not dimmed. This 375-lumen bulb is just like our standard-sized bulb-shaped light, but smaller. Ideal for light fixtures in ceiling fans, or other places where you prefer round bulb shape. Uses only 7 watts.

• Save a bundle they not only use less energy, they also last longer
• You’ll still have all the light you’re accustomed to with incandescent bulbs
• Instant operation no waiting for the lights to come on
• They won’t interfere with your X10 home automation system

Rating: (out of 1 reviews)

Price: $ 7.99

Energy Efficient Mini Bulb-Shaped Fluorescent Light Bulb Reviews

Buy Energy Efficient Mini Bulb-Shaped Fluorescent Light Bulb now for only $ 7.99!

Recoup lost energy dollars in your foundry’s compressed air system.(includes related article on one foundry’s efforts to reduce electricity consumption): An article from: Modern Casting

This digital document is an article from Modern Casting, published by American Foundrymen’s Society, Inc. on November 1, 1998. The length of the article is 2968 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Recoup lost energy dollars in your foundry’s compressed air system.(includes related article on one foundry’s efforts to reduce electricity consumption)
Author: Robert J. Mirel
Publication: Modern Casting (Magazine/Journal)
Date: November 1, 1998
Publisher: American Foundrymen’s Society, Inc.
Volume: 88 Issue: 11 Page: 45(3)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

List Price: $ 5.95
Price: $ 5.95

KVAR Energy Saving Controller SAVE 8% to 10% PER MONTH ON YOUR ELECTRIC BILL ! For Your Home !

The KVAR Unit fine-tunes the electrical system in your home or office. This fine tuning reduces heat generation, reduces amperage and results in reduced consumption of electricity. It causes less waste of electrical energy while increasing the life of the inductive equipment in your home or office. It protects against power surges and increases the capacity to the electrical panel by making it run cooler. All this means extra $$$ in your pocket. All KVAR products are backed with a comprehensive warranty.

The technology applied by the KVAR Unit reclaims, stores and supplies power to inductive motors and loads. This process provides the reactive power (KVAR) required to establish the electromagnetic field (EMF) around the inductive windings of a motor, while reclaiming and recycling the power during the normal working phase. The power reclaimed and recycled by the KVAR Unit would normally be pushed back through the power distribution lines.

As a result of providing reactive power (KVAR) locally, motors run cooler and more efficiently. This equates to immediate savings in dollars, kilowatt hours and longer equipment life.

Customers using the KEC have realized savings of 8% to 10% on their home or small business monthly power bills.

Using methods employed at large industrial complexes, now reduced to a compact unit, the KEC reclaims and recycles electrical energy. It fine-tunes the electrical system in your home or office resulting in less heat generation and reduced amperage resulting in reduced consumption of electricity. It causes less waste of electrical energy while increasing the life of the inductive equipment in your home or office. It protects against power surges and increases the capacity to the electrical panel by making it run cooler. All this means extra $$$ in your pocket.

• 8% – 10% or more off your electric bills-Reduced CO2 emissions
• Increased appliance, motor, and equipment life,Surge and spike protection
• 5 Year Warranty / 20 Year Design Life
• All this – plus it typically pays for itself in less than 24 months!
• The KVAR Unit fine-tunes the electrical system in your home or office.

List Price: $ 599.99
Price: $ 229.00

Strong growth in compact fluorescent bulbs reduces electricity demand.: An article from: World Watch

This digital document is an article from World Watch, published by Worldwatch Institute on January 1, 2009. The length of the article is 751 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Strong growth in compact fluorescent bulbs reduces electricity demand.
Author: Alice
Publication: World Watch (Magazine/Journal)
Date: January 1, 2009
Publisher: Worldwatch Institute
Volume: 22 Issue: 1 Page: 29(1)

Distributed by Gale, a part of Cengage Learning

List Price: $ 9.95
Price: $ 9.95

PowerCost Monitor TM

As unobtrusive as a small electric clock, the PowerCost Monitor is a powerful real-time direct feedback display device that measures home electricity usage. It tells at a glance, in real-time, how much electricity your home is using in dollars and cents and in kW. Domestic energy usage studies have demonstrated that real-time feedback yields energy savings anywhere between 10 and 20 percent. The savings at the high end of this range are realized when a tabletop energy display device, such as the PowerCost Monitor, is used. The PowerCost Monitor technology consists of two discrete functional units: A detection unit, known as the sensor unit, is affixed to an existing household utility meter with a simple ring clamp. The sensor unit is compatible with standard North American digital and electromechanical meter types. This is the only component of the PowerCost Monitor that will be in direct physical contact with the utility’s meter. The clamp mechanism allows it to be attached to the outside of the meter glass It can also be quickly attached and detached without making any changes to the existing meter. The display unit, located inside the home, receives a wireless signal from the transmitter and displays the consumption information in real time and in dollars and cents. Other information is also displayed such as time and outside temperature. Considerations before you order: The PowerCost Monitor uses a wireless signal (433 MHz) to read the information on your utility meter. This means that your utility meter must be located next to your home or within 30 meters (100 ft) of your home. The PowerCost Monitor can be easily used in a single detached dwelling, a duplex dwelling, or a row or town house. The PowerCost Monitor will not work with net metering applications such as wind and solar

• Wireless system provides real-time feedback of whole house electricity usage.
• Studies have demonstrated that real-time feedback yields energy savings anywhere between 10 and 20 percent.
• Compatible with all electromechanical and digital meters (inc, AMR, AMI, and Smart Meters).
• Easy installation by average homeowner in approximately 20 minutes.
• Toll Free manufacturer customer phone support and limited one year warranty.

Rating: (out of 26 reviews)

Price: $ 109.98

PowerCost Monitor TM Reviews

Review by Mike Jalkut:

When I first tried to set up the PowerCost Monitor I had some difficulty. But with the OUTSTANDING support from Blue Line Innovations it is finally working. I can see where some folks have given less than glowing reviews. Without understanding how the system works, it would have been easy to give up.

First of all, I had a hybrid meter, the m200 or something, which has a digital display and an infrared eye which reflect an actual internal old-fashioned wheel. No matter what I tried, I couldn’t get it to work. I tried reading the infrared as well as reading the actual wheel from the top. Nothing.

So I emailed BlueLine, received almost an immediate reply . . . and they went out of their way to help. They had me send a photo of my meter. And they helped me try everything in the book to get it to work. Still nothing. We were both about to give up.

And then a thought occurred (a rare event for me). The plastic housing on my PG&E meter was decades old and showed it. The years of weathering had made it difficult to read even the big digital numbers through the housing. I suggested I call PG&E to have it replaced. Three days later I had a shiny new PG&E meter, but a different model. This one only had the digital readout and an infrared eye. The wheel was completely enclosed. And the worst part — it was bigger around, soo big that the metal strap on the sending unit could no longer reach all the way around it to fasten the unit to the meter.

A trip to the hardware store fixed the size problem. And then when I set up the sending unit to read the infrared readout, lo and behold, it worked. And the wheel simulator on the receiving display matched time with the wheel simulator on the meter.

The monitor has now been working for 24 hours and accurately shows rises and falls as expected when appliances are turned on and off, but with about a 30 second delay due to the communication protocol of the system. And my wifi indicator bars read a constant 5 bars at about 60 feet from the sender, through 3 walls.

I have to say I would have given up on the system had it not been for the helpful guidance of BlueLine support. I had some misconceptions of how I thought the mechanism worked which were cleared up by understanding. I would say that some of theses tidbits of information might have been spelled out more clearly in the documentation. But the helpful folks at BlueLine more than overshadowed this.

I am listing my misconceptions and enlightenments here in case they are helpful to anyone.

1) Just because a meter has a digital readout does not guarantee it is a digital meter. Mine was a hybrid. This is important when setting the multiplication factor of the system. Mechanical meters typically have a 7.2 multiplication factor which is indicated on the front of the meter. Pure digital meters have a factor of 1. When in doubt use the factor marked on the actual meter.

2) If at first the wifi indicator shows little or no strength, don’t panic. If the ID process worked, the sender and receiver are linked. After I brought my display unit inside, it read 0 bars. It took about 3 minutes before the strength gradually increased to 5 bars. I don’t know if it helps or not, but I set my display on a table and did not move it for those initial minutes. This delay is due to the communication protocol of the system.

3) The system’s wifi protocol is limited by the FCC to a periodic burst. It does not continually broadcast like a computer wifi or cellphone. This is why it takes a while for the signal strength indicator to show full strength. This is also why it does not seem to respond immediately when you turn on the oven. Every 30 seconds or so (i think) it broadcasts the accumulated stats it has collected over the preceding period. Once everything is stable, it works fine. But without understanding this delay, it is easy to conclude the thing isn’t working, has bad reception, and doesn’t display accurately.

4) Make sure your meter housing is clean and not worn by years of weathering. Make sure the infrared eye is clean on meters where the signal is brought out to the outside of the housing.

I admit I have only had it working for a day now, and I may change my tune after a month or a year. And I can understand where some would be ready to send the thing back after tinkering for a few hours. But with understanding of how it works, and patience, it does work and is very revealing of how much energy we are wasting. I hope my experience can help.

Mike Jalkut

Review by Jon Wojan:

I got one of these units for Christmas and hooked it up and used it for a couple of months. The unit is excellent for evaluating the cumulative and individual usage of devices around the home as well as trending and seeing the impact of various energy saving techniques such as replacing incandescent with CFLs, validating when someone has left a room without turning off the lights, turning off your computers at night and so on.

The base station takes 15-30 seconds to update a change in electrical consumption. This may be due to my use on my mechanical electrical box with the rotating metal wheel. Because in my install it counts the rotations of the wheel in the meter, it must monitor an entire rotation to note a change in speed, and thus the change in electrical consumption. This might be quicker on the newer electronic meters.

The unit does not automatically reset statistics at the start of a new month, which means you must do it manually if you want accurate month long statistics by staying up until Midnight on the last day of the month. If you do not do the resets the unit will continue accumulating statistics indefinitely, which makes it difficult to correlate the unit’s information to your electrical bills.

As others have noted, the communication to the unit is heavily dictated by the use of other wireless devices in your home. I have two other outdoor temprature sensors that run on the same frequency and this would produce situations where the unit would occasionally drop connection to the outdoor sensor. The only way to work around it is to move the base station closer to the outdoor sensor or move the the other wireless devices away from the area.

The other drawback about losing the connection to the outside unit is that the statistics stop accumulating, so if the sensor falls out of range overnight, its possible to lose hours of data and the month’s statistics are essentially useless as they will be incomplete.

This means that at best the unit is helpful in point in time assessments of energy consumption and has limited usefulness in trending usage over periods longer than say a week or more.

The outdoor sensor has a very light silicon seal around the battery door designed to keep moisture out of the unit. The problem is the wire for the eye that monitors the rotation wheel passes through a rubber part that is at the top of the compartment at the location where the silicon gasket rests against the housing. The net result of this design is that it provides a location for water to enter the battery compartment which also contains an electric circuit board, and since the seams are all at the top it’s a natural location for water to pool and gravity to assist it in penetrating the compartment over time. This is exactly what happened to my unit, and within 2 months the silicon portal for the communication LED showed signs of water in the compartment. After having an increasing inability to maintain communication to the base station, I pulled the batteries and let the unit dry out on a warm dry day. I put new batteries in the unit and then closed it back up, but the electronics were apparently damaged by the moisture.

Blue Line Innovations, the maker of the device has a support number that you can call, but the RMA process is different from any other company I have worked with. Apparently the support personnel cannot provide you with RMA information, nor can they directly transfer you to a live person to talk to about getting replacement sensors or getting repairs done, it’s a callback model only.

I have been waiting for a callback for over 2 weeks now and I have made calls into the support center on 3 different occasions to try and move the return/replacement process forward and each time I am told that all they can do is forward the information to corporate and that I will just have to wait for the phone call back.

So, the net result is unless you can get this unit on a steep discount from your energy provider it’s not worth the retail value, also, if you live in a moist climate you might want to look at adding some additional shielding or silicon the door seals closed from the outside to prevent moisture from prematurely ending the life of the outdoor sensor.

Buy PowerCost Monitor TM now for only $ 109.98!