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Watch-A-Watt
What is Watch-A-Watt?
Watch-A-Watt is an energy monitoring program that allows members to identify what appliances and electronics are using electricity in their home. Members can check-out an energy monitoring device, called a Kill A Watt, from their local library. Then it's a simple as taking it home and plugging it in to your appliances.
Where do I get my energy monitoring device?
Kill A Watt devices will be available February 1, 2010 at the following libraries for your convenience:
Ridgway Public Library - 300 Charles St., Ridgway, CO 81432; (970) 626-5252
Ouray Public Library - 320 6th Ave., Ouray, CO 81427; (970) 325-4616
Silverton Public Library - 1111 Reese, Silverton, CO 81433; (970) 387-5770
Wilkinson Public Library - 100 West Pacific Ave., Telluride, CO 81435; (970) 728-4519
Norwood Public Library - 1110 Lucerne St., Norwood, CO 81423; (970) 327-4129
Naturita Public Library - 411 W. 2nd Ave., Naturita, CO 81422; (970) 865-2848
Nucla Public Library - 544 Main St., Nucla, CO 81424; (970) 864-2166
Rico Public Library - 2 N. Commercial St., Rico, CO 81332; (970) 967-2103
How does it work?
The Kill A Watt is a simple device that measures the kilowatt hour usage, among other things, of an individual household appliance. To use it, you just plug the Kill A Watt into a wall socket, and then plug your appliance, such as a television or refrigerator, into the socket on the front of the Kill A Watt. The Kill A Watt will literally show you what your appliance is using in kilowatt hours, the same measurement used on your electricity bills.
To determine energy usage, press the "kwh" key -- this will give you the number of kilowatt-hours that the appliance has used since it was connected to the Kill A Watt. Press the "kwh" key a 2nd time, and the Kill A Watt will give you the number of hours over which this energy was used.
How long should I leave an appliance plugged in?
Leave the appliance plugged into the Kill A Watt for a day or so to get a good average reading. The Kill A Watt will continuously monitor and add up the power used starting from the time you plug in the Kill A Watt.
What does my KWH usage mean to me?
You've identified what's using energy in your home and how much, but what now? Ask yourself if you can unplug any of the items that use power even when they are turned off. For example, alarm clocks and televisions in guest bedrooms can be unplugged the majority of the time. Don't leave chargers for small electronics such as phones and MP3 players plugged in continuously.
After you've taken these small steps, evaluate what items were the biggest energy hogs in your home. Often times these can be old appliances like water heaters, refrigerators and washing machines. Below is a chart comparing the average annual electricity usage of baseline and EnergyStar household appliances.
Annual Electricity Usage in Kilowatt Hours |
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| Appliance | Baseline Model Usage |
EnergyStar Usage |
| Cordless Phone | 29.94 |
17.52 |
| Headset for cordless phone | 26.61 |
8.76 |
| DVD Player | 46.33 |
32.34 |
| Dehumidifier, small | 650 |
596 |
| Dehumidifier, medium | 1064 |
851 |
| Dehumidifier, large | 1329 |
1287 |
| Dishwasher, gas water heating | 264 |
187 |
| Dishwasher, electric water heating | 467 |
331 |
| Refrigerator*, manual defrost | 479 |
407 |
| Refrigerator*, partial auto defrost | 479 |
407 |
| Refrigerator*, top-mount freezer | 532 |
452 |
| Refrigerator*, side-mount freezer | 636 |
541 |
| Refrigerator*, bottom-mount freezer | 579 |
492 |
| Refrigerator*, top-mount freezer w/ ice dispenser | 632 |
529 |
| Refrigerator*, side-mount freezer w/ ice dispenser | 670 |
570 |
| Chest freezer, 22 cubic ft. | 520 |
468 |
| Ceiling fan, including lighting use** | 295 |
143 |
| Ceiling fan, no lights | 78 |
71 |
| Clothes Washer, electric water heating | 820 |
562 |
| Clothes Washer, gas water heating | 82 |
56 |
*Refrigerator assumption was 18 cubic feet of refrigerator space and 5 cubic feet of freezer space |
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