Energy Savings Goes Techno

Seems like everyone has an iPod these days, but you could be the first one in your circle to get one of these new gadgets. Not only will you be cool, you will no doubt take your energy saving efforts to new heights!

The Kill a Watt

The Kill a Watt plugs into a wall and accepts plug-ins from appliances, showing exactly how much energy is being consumed. A large LCD display counts consumption by the Kilowatt-hour. You can figure out your electrical expenses by the hour, day, week, month, even an entire year.

The Wattson

If the Kill a Watt isn't exciting enough, then try the Wattson. It is a small console designed by a British company that wirelessly connects to your home's energy meter. If the console glows blue, less electricity than normal is being used. If it glows red, it's just the opposite. (The light in this photo looks purple to me--not sure what that means! For an in depth look at the Wattson, check out this review.)

The Orb

Still in testing, the Orb is a small frosted-glass ball that changes color based on how much demand is on the electricity grid. (Note: MLGW's rates are not tied to demand like they are in other states like California.) You can put it anywhere in the house, like a piece of modern art. When demand is high, consumption costs more, and the Orb turns red. When it's low, the cost falls, and the Orb turns green. Homeowners can then adjust their consumption accordingly, choosing the best times to use electrical devices.