Free Real-Time Energy Meters for the U.K.
by EcoGeek.org on 04.16.07
The government of the United Kingdom has decided that people should know how much energy they're using all the time, and which appliances are the biggest draws on their power. The U.K. will soon be giving a free real-time energy meter to any household in the country that requests one.
The initiative is part of the United Kingdom's commitment to cut CO2 emissions 60% by 2050.
The ability visualize energy use, in kilowatts, pounds of carbon, and pounds and pence is vital to decreasing household carbon footprints. These real-time monitors are simple to install and easy to use. Of course, there's no guarantee that the devices will be of high quality. In order for consumers to really use these they have to provide meaningful information, namely, the amount of money being spent and saved.
Some worry that electric companies will provide households with tiny and difficult to decipher meters that will, in effect, just be another lousy piece of plastic in the junk drawer.
It will probably be another year before citizens are able to ask for the meters, but by 2008, the U.K. should be the first country who's citizens always know what's going into their houses. ::BBC
Many parts of Illinois are able to request these real-time meters and use the associated rates now. Mine will become effective at the end of May. We do have to pay a small monthly fee to use the meter and the service, however. See http://www.powersmartpricing.com for details.
Awesome. I want one. With most devices around the house, a kill-a-watt meter will do the job, but you can only measure one device, or the sum of multiple devices' usage at one time. I'd like the be able to see how much my furnace or water heater is using, or total lighting use.
That's great, If only Brits would fight for basic freedoms, like privacy.
Wow, I want one. It looks like a very handy gadget to have around the house.
Does anybody know where to get info on the meter shown in the photo? The screenshot of the LCD monitor in the photo is so cool ! Does this thing really exist? It says "morepower" on the screen in the photo but I cannot find any info on morepower...
yorkvillesolar: unfortunately while it might seem like the UK is committed, so much of it is just talk at the moment (especially from our politicians and especially from Mr Tony). Things are moving along a bit but....
What i don't understand about these meters is that they don't seem to be smart meters (i.e. capable of metering up and down flow of electricity).
While it's very useful to know exactly how much electricity you're consuming at any one time, wouldn't it be better to incorporate smart metering into the device? It would be more expensive I know but the fact is that ten years down the line we're going to need them so why not go for it now?
This is great, but I wonder if the people who actually request one of these are the type of people who would be (relatively) energy efficient anyway. Hopefully there's a media campaign to inform the masses
this is a confusing article, are these meters going to be avalible in the rest of the UK or is it just England?
Hey we don't need privacy anymore.....that's so old fashioned. We have more CCTV cameras than anyone else, and even ones that talk back to you. Now THAT'S what I call a free country! :(
This is the first time I've heard of something like this. Does anyone know of a system like this aimed at residential stand-alone installations? Where can I find out more about systems like this one?