To reduce expenses and to help protect the environment, in early 2021 our household started taking a number of measures to cut our energy consumption. Those measures have proven successful: total 2021 electricity consumption in our single-family, detached home in the US SE was about 8,000 kWh (3,200 of which was for HVAC), compared to about 11,000 kWh annual average in previous years. [UPDATE on 1/1/23: our total electricity consumption in 2022 dropped even further to just 5,500 kWh (1,600 of which was for HVAC) for the year. We have HALVED our electricity consumption. Huge savings. This electricity usage monitor continues to operate beautifully. We lend it to friends and family so that they can do their own diagnostics at their homes and see where they can save.]
Looking back, we can say that purchasing the Kuman Electricity Usage Monitor Plug has been one of our wisest and most useful moves, and a very inexpensive one at that.
The Usage Monitor Plug helped us to gain really eye-opening – and often surprising – insights into our electricity usage, allowing us to identify specific steps we could take to reduce consumption. Most importantly, we learned that “phantom power,” or the energy consumed by things when they are plugged in but not being used, accounted for a lot of our waste. Here are just a few examples:
We discovered that our microwave used 64 kWh annually … in standby mode. We estimate that our actual annual use of the microwave takes less than 60 kWh. We now unplug it when we’re not using it.
Another big consumer is our modem/router, coming in at 88 kWh/year. We now unplug it when the last person calls it a night. For people with set schedules, a timer switch would also work.
Among the other major users of phantom energy are our TV w/ accessories (138 kWh/year when not being used but left plugged in) and our CD player (60 kWh/year in standby).
One final example: Our rather old dishwasher is a real glutton, coming in at nearly 700 kWh/year. Newer, more energy-efficient models use less that 200 kWh/year. The next time our dishwasher breaks down, we will replace it rather than repair it.
Finally, here are some other products we purchased at Amazon that we can recommend to those interested in cutting home energy consumption:
Klein Tools TI250 Rechargeable Thermal Imager: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B089QW8R9S This tool, along with the Usage Monitor Plug, gave us a very good picture of where we were wasting energy. It was thanks to this tool that we realized, for example, that our then uninsulated recessed lights were really problematic, prompting us to purchase the following.
FF130E Recessed Light Cover: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002XVPUAO If you have recessed lights and they’re not well insulated in the attic, energy wastage can be massive. These were easy to put in, sealed with Great Stuff: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KSANBTY
AcuRite Wireless Indoor Outdoor Temperature and Humidity Sensor: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00T0K8NXC We got two of these to go with our AcuRite weather station. They allow us to monitor temperature and humidity in four places at once: outside, in our living room, in our crawlspace, and in our unfinished attic. Thanks to these readings, we have established a smarter, more energy-efficient way of ventilating our crawlspace. They also helped us see that our attic needed additional ventilation in the roof, prompting us to purchase the following.
4 SEASONS Solar Powered Polycarbonate Vent, Weatherproof Design, Quietly Cools Up to 500 Sq Ft, 400 CFM: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DMSCPJA
Aootek solar lights 120 LEDs with lights reflector, 270 degree Wide Angle, IP65 Waterproof, Security Lights for Front Door, Yard, Garage, Deck (4 pack): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NQ4L1SB , as well as Solar Lights Outdoor,WWimy 210 LED 2500LM Motion Sensor Lights with Remote Control, 3 Heads Security LED Flood Lights, IP65 Waterproof, 270° Wide Angle Illumination Wall Lights with 3 Modes (2 Packs): www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08T9F2MM1 Purchased in August 2021, these lights continue to work well here in the SE, saving us over 150 kWh/year. We shared some of these lights with relatives in the North; they also report that their lights are going strong after a rough winter.
STATINT Window Film Privacy One Way Daytime Mirror Static Non-Adhesive Solar Glass Film Heat Control: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07W3VCZNF
RYB HOME Room Darkening Patio Door Curtain, Hanging Room Divider Screen Insulated Drapes Privacy Wall Panel: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D32DJ2V , as well as RYB HOME Blackout Curtains & Drapes - Total Privacy Thermal Efficiency Backdrop Curtains for Bedroom Room Divider Vertical Blind Living Room Patio Sliding Glass Door: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077SZRBNJ
Grandekor Blackout Window Blinds and Shades Cordless Cellular Shades: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NWBGVL3
| Manufacturer | kuman |
|---|---|
| Part Number | KW47-US-FBA |
| Item Weight | 7.4 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 3 x 6 x 6 inches |
| Item model number | KW47-US |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Color | white |
| Style | NO-Backlight |
| Material | ABS |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Included Components | Power meter *1 (US plug) User manual*1 |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
