Tell me about energy monitors please.

[TiredofZombies]

I'm considering getting one as our electricty bill is higher than it really needs to be, and I'd like to see where it's going. I'm not sure how they work though, do you have to go round the house switching everything off and then turn them on one at a time to see how much they cost to run? Do they just give you the cost per hour, or will it tell me, for example, how much it costs to boil the kettle? Does it need wiring in to the electricity meter or something?

Tell me about yours, has it saved you money? Does it have useful features, or are there features you wish it had?

[Fluffycloudland77]

I got ours in asda, it's an OWL one.

It fixes on to the cable coming out the electric meter but in this house (old meter) we cant use it as the cable is too small. It was good especially for reminding me that the oven had been left on. It told us how much the house was costing in electric at that moment or since the last reset.

The other type plug into the wall and you plug the appliance into them, they tell you how much that appliance is costing to run and I would like to get one of them next.

[cathy78]

I hired one for 3 weeks for free from the library. There was a bit that clipped to your meter and then a display that you plugged into the wall. It showed you how much energy you were using at that moment and the cost. So when we just had the fridge and a couple of lightbulbs on it was around £17 per month but once the kettle went on it shot up to £230 ifyswim.
You could use the information to work out exactly what each item costs you yo run but I was happy with just knowing what used a lot/ what used a little energy.
In some ways I think they are pointless. If something is on it's costing you money so turn off anything un necessary but it has made me think. I know only boil what I need or put any extra water in a flask for later. I try and cook lots of things in the oven at the same time and if a lot of us want toast I'll do loads under the grill instead of using the toaster.

[TiredofZombies]

I think the type that plug in sounds like what I'm after. Great idea borrowing one though, I did wonder how much use it would be, once you've checked all your appliances. Possibly the type that goes on the meter is better for day-to-day monitoring?

I actually found DP's old flask today, so I filled it and used it for coffee through the day. I have thought about doing toast inder the grill, but ours takes about 5 years to heat up, so I'm not sure if there would be any saving there.

I also try to cook pasta etc with the lid on the pan, but I can't seem to get it to just the right temperature, it's either bubbling over and spilling water all over the hob, or it's not quite at boiling so the pasta isn't cooked when it should be.

[cathy78]

This is how I do my pasta. Weigh out the correct quantity and put into boiling water. Bring the water back up to a boil then put the lid on the pan. Turn off the heat and then leave for full cooking time plus 3 minutes. Perfectly cooked pasta, minimum energy.

[TiredofZombies]

Oh, that's a good idea, might have to give that a try! I had a rant at DP tonight for this very reason. The water was not boiling (with the lid on) so I turned the knob up a teeny tiny amount, the smallest possible amount I could turn it, and then it was boiling over everywhere.

DP suggested putting the lid so it was open a crack, which to me defeats the object of using a lid. Although I grudgingly admit it does boil with the ring on at a lower temperature than without a lid entirely.