Green Gadgets for Slashing Your Electricity Bills

Below are examples of simple, effective devices that can help you save significant amounts of electrical energy in your home and business. The amount of electricity (and money!) saved can be truly impressive.

Gadget #1: Watt Meter

Would you like to determine if there are unexpected electricity hogs in your home or business? Would you like to know how many kilowatt hours your refrigerator, computer, game console, freezer, etc. is consuming (and costing!)? If the answer to either of these questions is "yes," then a watt meter is precisely what you need. Two examples of such meters are the "Watts Up?" and "Kill-a-Watt Meters" meters shown above. Simply plug your freezer, computer, etc. into one of these meters, and the watt meter will start reporting how many watts, kilowatt hours, amps, etc. are being consumed.

These meters also allow you to input the cost of electricity, say 10 cents per KWH, so that you can determine monthly costs of each electrical device. Meters with an electrical cord (see photo on right) are a bit easier to use. Cost: about $25-$130, depending on specific features.


Gadget #2: Smart Strip

This is a power strip with some great energy-saving features! A master device (such as a computer) is plugged into the blue outlet and "slave devices" (for example, a printer, external speakers, etc.) are plugged into the uncolored outlets. When the master device is turned off, the slave devices automatically shut down, thus eliminating their use of electricity. The Smart Strip can easily be adjusted to accomodate a master device sleep mode. Devices plugged into the red-colored outlets are always "on." Cost: $25 and higher, depending on number of outlets provided and other features.


Gadget #3: Remote Conrol Switch

Some electrical devices, such as speakers, Christmas tree lights, etc. are bothersome to unplug. In fact, wireless speaker systems may never be unplugged, which means they are always on, adding unneeded kilowatt hours to electrical bills. A simple remote control switch, like the Super Switch shown above, is a nice solution for situations like this. Signals pass through books, walls, and vegetation so that you can easily control when electrical devices are off and on. Cost: about $15.


Gadget #4: Automatic Timer Switch

Automatic timer switches can be used to control when and how often, electrical devices such fans, heaters, lights, and air conditioners are on. For example, fans may not need to be on continuously. Some timer switches, such as the Internatic Timer above, allow multiple on/off settings per 24-hr cycle. In addition to achieving significant energy reductions, equipment life span may be extended. Cost: about $10.