By Install a Home Energy Monitor
A home energy monitor is a device that tucks inside your home’s electrical panel and communicates data via wifi. These devices can help you track your energy use, find problems and adjust your usage patterns. They can be a great way to save money and take control of your energy bills.
Several companies offer smart home products that provide home energy monitoring. They range from small sensors that attach to your service mains, to smarter systems that use machine learning to recognize the “electricity signatures” of each appliance in your home.
The first step in determining which type of home energy monitor is right for you is assessing your energy consumption and your needs. You’ll want to choose a system that provides insights, reports and recommendations that are easy for you to understand. You’ll also want to consider your budget and your personal comfort level with the installation process. If you don’t feel confident, you might want to hire a professional to install the system for you.
Do I Need Any Special Equipment to Install a Home Energy Monitor?
Some energy monitors are solar-ready, allowing them to track the output from your solar panel system, besides power use. This can be a great way to keep your energy bills low while maximizing your solar power potential. A home energy monitor can be very easy to install, especially if you’re a do-it-yourself kind of person. Depending on the type of system you get, however, you may need to hire an electrician to do the work.
A whole-home energy monitor gives you a comprehensive view of your household energy consumption and costs. They typically include sensors that clamp onto the circuits in your breaker box and connect to appliances throughout your home, like your washer and dryer.
For example, Emporia Energy’s Gen 2 Vue whole-home energy monitor includes 16 sensors that can be attached to the breaker panel in your home and connect to each of your appliances. The monitor comes with DIY instructions, though it’s recommended that you call a licensed electrician to install the system for you.
The company offers two versions of its product: the EMPORIA ENERGY GENERAL MONITOR and the EMPORIA ENERGY INDIVIDUAL APPLIANCE MONITOR. The former has a smaller transmitter than the latter and is best suited for homeowners with tighter panels.
It uses CT clamps and software to disaggregate individual devices from the home’s power grid, delivering information at the circuit level. Its CTs come in a variety of sizes, from 50A to 1000A. They are powered by an energy panel or wall outlet and can deliver continuous data at 1-second density. Eyedro also offers a low-cost solution that can deliver data over Wi-Fi, but it requires an electrical outlet.
Some energy monitors can even be set up to be connected to a smart assistant to give you hands-free updates and energy adjustments through an app. You can also set up alerts when you enter peak consumption zones, seek assurance that an appliance has been turned off, and more.