Kill-A-Watt
When there is talk about energy-saving appliances, it usually involves switching an old appliance for a new one. Here is an appliance you might not have heard of: the Kill-A-Watt. With a Kill-A-Watt, you can find out “watts” killing you!
The Kill-A-Watt is an appliance from P3 International. What you do is plug it into an outlet, then plug one of your electric appliance into the Kill-A-Watt’s outlet. Then, the Kill-A-Watt will calculate how efficient your machine is. How much energy is your computer using? Is it time for a new refrigerator? The Kill-A-Watt can tell you the exact electrical expense of that appliance for every day, month, or even a year. It can project how much the appliance will cost you in the future. Aspects that are monitored are voltage, frequency, and power factor. You’ll learn how much your appliance uses by the Kilowatt-hour, which is the same unit that your electric utility uses.
With a Kill-A-Watt, you can tell which appliances you should keep and which ones you should chuck. If you have two of the same appliance, perhaps just a coffee maker, you could see which one is more efficient. It is accurate to .2%! Like most green ideas, the Kill-A-Watt eventually will help you save energy and money, while helping out the environment by reducing your carbon footprint.
I only wish I could use a Kill-A-Watt while I go shopping. Then, I would really see if the claims that some appliances make are true. It would be interesting to compare an Energy Star item’s usage to that of one without the Energy Star. With a Kill-A-Watt, you can find out the exact difference and contribution your appliances are making. Buying a Kill-A-Watt will cost you around $20, but it can help you save a lot more!
