GREEN CHALLENGE: Energy monitoring week

Thanks to our good friends at Ethical Superstore, four bloggers here at Shiny Towers have been equipped with energy monitors; clever devices which tell us the ugly truth about exactly how much power we're consuming on a daily basis.

Next week, Katie, Duncan, Dan and I will be installing these meters in our homes and keeping an eye on the readings to see just how 'green' we really are. Now, what with at least two of our testers being professional gadget freaks (Dan and Duncan both join us from Tech Digest) we are prepared for some shocks. But will Katie and I, the so-called eco-worriers fare any better? Stay tuned for the honest and uncensored results, next week...

Read on after the jump to find out more about our testers and the devices we'll be using...

Tech Digest editor Dan will be taking the OWL wireless energy monitor home to keep tabs on his tech habit, comprising a BT vision box, three computers and a home entertainment system including a 'bloody big stereo'. Dan's home runs entirely on electricity, so it'll be intersting to see how this affects the results.

The OWL costs £29.95, and clips on to your electricity meter's cabling for simple installation.

Shiny's editorial director Katie will be testing one of the newest monitors on the market: the Efergy. Katie's home is probably the most eco-friendly of all the Shinies, including an all-electric heating system. Katie's main concern in terms of power-consuming items is her husband, who works from home during the day. Will he have to go?

The Efergy costs £39.95, and will also convert energy readings into a monetary value, based on the cost price of your electricity.

Tech Digest editorial assistant Duncan is an eco-warrior on the quiet, so we're all waiting with interest to find out whether his techie or green leanings will win over. The Eco-Eye Elite will be the judge of that, spelling out the horrible truth on a "large clear display".

The Eco-Eye Elite is described as a 'masterpiece of design and simplicity' and costs £49.99.

Finally, I'll be revealing just how green I really am with the Daddy of all power meters, The Wattson. (Being the caring sharing editor I am, I bagged this gadget for myself and ran off hooting into the night. Let's see how smug I'll be about this when I'm trying to install the thing!)

I should probably point out now that I've just moved house, so am completely in the dark about how much power it'll take to run this place than my old, smaller flat. But it'll be a good opportunity to cut down on any excesses and make a fresh start. It's a big place with several technical people on board, so I'm prepared for a shock...

The Wattson costs £99.95 and as well as giving numerical power readings, turns pretty colours depending on how good you've been.

Comments