Electricity Monitors - some advice please

Mean Mr Mustard · Post by **Mean Mr Mustard** » 23 Apr 2011, 14:07

Seen one of these

http://www.theowl.com/

I've not looked around yet. Which are the the best brands and what features should I be thinking about?

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 23 Apr 2011, 16:48

Though I'm sure they're all great fun, I've not (yet?) bothered getting any. I keep thinking, how much do they cost, and how long would it take us to save that much money on our leccy over and above simply turning things off?

If you're in charge of something that's a bit more complicated than a house, it'd be worth getting one I suppose. Owl seem to be a good brand.

nexus · Post by **nexus** » 23 Apr 2011, 17:13

There was a great scheme via our local library where we could borrow the 'Owl' monitors and I would recommend it.

We found it easy to use and the results helped us lower our electricity consumption even more.

woodpecker · Post by **woodpecker** » 23 Apr 2011, 20:16

I'm just putting together a grant application to get a local loan scheme off the ground. Fingers crossed. I'm thinking 10 units via our local library as a pilot, with hopefully the council and/or others helping to fund a roll-out to other libraries in the borough.

As already said here, the cost is high given that most of the learning is in the first few weeks of use, so these an ideal candidate for a loan scheme.

There are a few loan schemes areound the country (High Wycombe, York, Sheffield?, some in Wales). Most are funded by local strategic partnerships, and several work through libraries. I've yet to find one where units are paid for by an energy company...

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 23 Apr 2011, 20:37

Wot not even Good Energy or that nice Mr Vince?

woodpecker · Post by **woodpecker** » 23 Apr 2011, 20:42

I haven't investigated all schemes; I just had a hunt around the web and to see what was thrown up, a week or two back. None of those schemes had an energy supplier as part of the scheme.

I'm going to follow up with the 'leccy companies, but first I'd like the council/library on board.

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 23 Apr 2011, 21:19

We've got two Owls, one for our pv generation and one that measures import or export (though it can't tell which!).

Every house should have an Owl or something like it. It has made us much more concious of what we are using.

(They're not desperately accurate - but good enough for household purposes.)