OWL Energy Use Monitor - Review

I blogged a few months ago about buying an energy use monitor with the money I won for my post about plastic bags.  

That was a few months ago, and as planned, I'm passing the monitor on to some friends.  So here are my thoughts.  If you've tried to keep an eye on your energy usage, please let me know how you've got on - and share any tips below.

Comments

[Julia Goodfellow-Smith]

I have heard that Leeds libraries should have one in each branch available for loan, but haven't tested the theory. If most useful for the first month, that's an ideal way of getting hold of one.

I have also heard of other libraries doing the same - why don't you give it a try?

[Nicola Jones]

Hey Rob - this is really interesting, have considered getting a monitor for a while, but things that you pointed out, like the conversion of rates and general difficulty of instructions turned me off it. Has it made massive differences in the way you use electricity / changed your lifestyle?

[Rob Greenland]

Julia, Nicola, thanks for your comments. I'll find out about the loans. I remember seeing something about that on the television in York - I'll see if Leeds is doing the same. Given my experience, of it being of most use in the first month, I can imagine that service would be a really useful one.

Nicola, that's the key question. It has a bit. The (admittedly very boring) change is that I'm now more aware of the amount of energy it takes to get the oven to temperature. So, it's really not that efficient to heat it up, to then bake a part-baked baguette or something like that (I told you this was mundane!) So we try to use the oven a bit more carefully, which, given that that's something we use a lot, that'll make a fair difference.

Other than that, we're probably fairly aware of this stuff already, so it hasn't changed things a lot. But, if you're new to this stuff, I think it could really make a difference.

I think the big changes will come from people comparing notes. I've taken our readings and now passed the monitor on. It'll be interesting to see how other people's energy use compares. That may help us to change more.

[Claire Theyers]

Hi Rob,

Like to see that you've moved onto video now! I'm really interested in what you say about the OWL monitor. I've got a current cost myself but have found similar things: its interesting at first and then you just look at it and it shows a high reading and I think there's nothing I can do about it now: I need lights/ I need to cook, leave me alone!
Anyway I'm hoping that when you and your friends want to compare readings, you might be able to use this: http://beta.tryingtobegreen.com/ its a website i've just set up for tracking your electricity readings and comparing with others.
By the way, I am a social(ish) enterprise (not sure if theres a set definition of social enterprise and if there is whether I qualify or not) based in York.
Cheers,
Claire