Insider Secrets Magazine by ecoMaster

TIP #03
ENERGY USE
SEE YOUR
ENERGY USE
CLEARLY
There are a few different ways of making
energy usage in the home more visible. In
order to find out what is using all the power
in our homes, how much power we are using
and how much solar feeding we are doing.
The first option is having an in-home display
that sits, for example, on your kitchen bench
that you can glance at and find out all kinds
of great information. There are two types.
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The first is one that connects directly to your
smart metre wirelessly. At the moment it is
unavailable in this country.
The second type is a two-part device. This display
comes with a transmitter that is placed around
the main power cable that brings power to your
home and a receiver that displays information.
Whilst this has a few disadvantages like needing
batteries and an electrician to install it. But the
advantage is that it’s going to work on any type
of meter that you’ve got.
If you have a “Smart Meter” you have access
to a free online portal provided by your energy
distributor (or retailer depending upon your
location). That portal has all of this information
about your home’s consumption of electricity.
Another way to track your usage is by appliance,
by a smart plug which will allow you to control
the times an appliance is used and how much
energy is being used.
ENERGY USE
GET TO KNOW
YOUR ENERGY
BILL BETTER
In our home, we have what is called a “Time of Use
Tariff”. That means that we have a Peak Tariff during
the day from 7 am to 7 pm, and then a cheaper tariff
called an Off-Peak Tariff that is applied from 11
pm to 7 am. The Off-Peak Tariff also applies to the
weekend.
During the day on a weekday, a kilowatt-hour of
power costs us about 25 cents, whereas during the
night and the weekend it only costs about 15 cents.
By using electricity during the off-peak times you
youtube.com/watch?v=YGVU1Kr6xhI
IP #04
are able to save some money.
You may have different tariffs called
“Controlled Load” where the Off-Peak Tariffs
only applying to electric hot water. In that
case, the lower tariffs are applied to the hot
water usage whereas other usage is at a
higher rate.
Last but not least, when you have solar
panels and they are in the sun and you use an
appliance, the usage will not be added on the
energy bill because the electricity is coming
from the solar panels. In this case, you may
have spare capacity, meaning the electricity
will be added to the grid and you will be paid
by your electricity retailer.
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