Maker Pro
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ENERGY AUDIT

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Ian Stirling

Jan 1, 1970
0
In alt.energy.homepower [email protected] said:
Can anyone give me advice on carrying out a home energy audit ?

Obtain a killa-watt meter, or something similar.
Plug all your electrical devices in one by one, ideally for at least a day
to get an idea of how much energy each uses in a typical day.

Sort the resultant list by energy use.
Repeat with other sources of energy.
 
G

George Ghio

Jan 1, 1970
0
Can anyone give me advice on carrying out a home energy audit ?

On a sheet of paper you make 4 columns

In the first column you list all your appliances and lights (if your
planning an alternative eergy system list all lights separately).

In the second column you list each apliances watts

In the third column you list the # of hours the appliance is used

When you have thes columns filled you then multiply the second column by
the third column and put the answer in the fourth column.

When you multiply the watts by the time you get watt hours you then add
up all the Wh to get your total Daily use in Wh

Eaxmple

Item Watts Time Wh
TV 100 4 400
Light 50 6 300
Total 700

This method is free.

George
 
D

daestrom

Jan 1, 1970
0
Can anyone give me advice on carrying out a home energy audit ?

Others have posted some ideas, I'll add my $0.02

If you're looking to power your home from non traditional sources, a good
first step is as others have suggested. Buy a portable watt-meter and take
some measurements.

If you're looking to reduce your heating bill this winter, try contacting
your utility. Many have FREE energy audit programs where they will come in
and do a few basic tests. How clean your furnace is burning, how leaky your
doors/windows are, that sort of thing. Much of the information they will
provide you is available elsewhere, but the price is right and it is
relevant for the average homeowner in your area. Then with their
information you can devise a 'plan of attack'. They will usually help you
figure out where you can get 'the most bang for your buck'. Some of the
cheaper things people can do turn out to have really big savings (like
chaulking/weatherstripping).

daestrom
 
And well worth the price too. Unless you need to know the consumption of
a dishwasher, clothes washer, bread maker, microwave oven, etc. For such
items you need a Brand meter, Wattsup, Killawatt, surplus house meter or
whatever.
will the Killawatt work in the UK ?
 
G

George Ghio

Jan 1, 1970
0
"wmbjk" <[email protected]> said:
And well worth the price too. Unless you need to know the consumption of
a dishwasher, clothes washer, bread maker, microwave oven, etc. For such
items you need a Brand meter, Wattsup, Killawatt, surplus house meter or
whatever.

Wayne

But then you can't read so the information booklet that comes with an
appliance is of no use for you.
 
G

George Ghio

Jan 1, 1970
0
"wmbjk" <[email protected]> said:
I take it that in your role as "solar consultant" that you haven't found
any use for Wh meters as required by mere mortals?

Of course they have a use. One use is for people like you who can't read
or work out their own numbers.
What a surprise.

Yes. Sheep are suprised by everything that happens. Even if it happens
two times in a second.
Well
then why don't you give us some numbers oh great and clairvoyant guru.


3, 29, 10, 49, 56, and my favorite 366.
Perhaps starting with the range of energy consumption per use for each
of the appliances mentioned.

Yet again you prove that basic maths is beyond you.
I expect you'll produce some meaningful
data about the same time that you elaborate on your generator use.....
as in, when pigs fly.

Yes I like the idea of a flying pig. My flying pig is part of my heating
system.

You want to know what my generator use is and I want to know what your
energy use is that gives you 7 Days autonomy. And I asked first.

In the meantime I bet we get to see some more of
your usual boneheadedness. One thing's for sure - now that I've
recommended the use of a meter to log individual consumption, you'll
never admit that it's a good idea. Brilliant strategy.

Actually I log all the data for my system. Have done for many years. I
just can't see spending money on a meter when in most western countries
the information is supplied either on the appliance or in the specs in
the back of the owners manual. If this is not avalible then the meter on
the front of the house can be used.

People like you need a laser level and a sextant just to get your panels
to face the sun.

Then you try to start another BS post-arama in the hopes that no one
will notice that you still will not, have not, can not even explain your
own system or work out the meaning of 'Autonomy'

Please do not reply to this thread as no one needs your foaming at the
mouth tirades over something as simple as an Energy Audit.

George
 
Obtain a killa-watt meter, or something similar.
Plug all your electrical devices in one by one, ideally for at least a day
to get an idea of how much energy each uses in a typical day.
im in the UK . will the kill a watt work over here ?
 
And well worth the price too. Unless you need to know the consumption of
a dishwasher, clothes washer, bread maker, microwave oven, etc. For such
items you need a Brand meter, Wattsup, Killawatt, surplus house meter or
whatever.
BTW i liked your website. i downloaded it to read offline.
a thoroughly good read.
 
N

Nick Pine

Jan 1, 1970
0
George Ghio said:
...I just can't see spending money on a meter when in most western countries
the information is supplied either on the appliance or in the specs in
the back of the owners manual...

Meters are cheap, these days, and appliance nameplates tend to
spec peak power, which might be triple the average power...

Nick
 
Meters are cheap, these days, and appliance nameplates tend to
spec peak power, which might be triple the average power...
what if the device is badly malfunctioning and using more power than
it should. I would have that was also a good argument for using a
meter.
 
G

George Ghio

Jan 1, 1970
0
Meters are cheap, these days, and appliance nameplates tend to
spec peak power, which might be triple the average power...

Nick

Ah Nick, the never the full quote eh.

What I said was

Actually I log all the data for my system. Have done for many years. I
just can't see spending money on a meter when in most western countries
the information is supplied either on the appliance or in the specs in
the back of the owners manual. If this is not avalible then the meter on
the front of the house can be used.

The electric co. gives you a perfectly good meter. Why not use it?

If you want to buy another one fine.
George
 
G

George Ghio

Jan 1, 1970
0
what if the device is badly malfunctioning and using more power than
it should. I would have that was also a good argument for using a
meter.

If you want to buy a meter just buy it. You don't any one here to hold
your hand. They mostly work. I answered your question which was:

"Can anyone give me advice on carrying out a home energy audit" ?

It seems that you were really asking:

Should I buy a watt meter?

Perhaps next time you will word your question better.

George
 
If you want to buy a meter just buy it. You don't any one here to hold
your hand. They mostly work. I answered your question which was:

"Can anyone give me advice on carrying out a home energy audit" ?

It seems that you were really asking:

Should I buy a watt meter?

Perhaps next time you will word your question better.
George thanks for your advice. I will follow it. but i like gadgets
and i like the sound of a watt meter.would it be true that a
malfunctioning device could consume more power than its rating ?
 
D

daestrom

Jan 1, 1970
0
Nick Pine said:
Meters are cheap, these days, and appliance nameplates tend to
spec peak power, which might be triple the average power...

And you know, I've read that darn refrigerator manual from cover to cover,
and I can't find anywhere in it where it tells me the unit draws 3 watts
when the compressor is off. Nor anywhere that explains the compressor unit
and phantom 3 watts combined draw an average of 87 kWhr in a 720-hour month.

Guess George's manuals are more complete than the ones here in the US.

daestrom
 
M

mark Ransley

Jan 1, 1970
0
You cant do a proper audit of each appliance without a watt meter. What
is published on a refrigerator , or any apliance doesnt take in
account time it is not running. On new appliances an Energyguide sheet
is included alowing you to compare usage,and that works for comparison
when buying new. . But my old 30 watt stereo and tv cost me 1.50 each,
in standby a month. My new energy star rated tv and 110 watt stero cost
0.22 cents in standby. Most houses pay 15.00 a month in phantom loads,
you need a amp.probe or wattmeter to measure these. The simplest way to
cut phantom loads is have them on a switch, wall or powerstrip. By
having my tv and 7 accesories, dvd, vcr, etc switched i save 11.00 us
a month. I have 3 cordless phones, costing me 5 a month. so I
disconected 2. A clamp on ampmeter reading .00 is also good for finding
shorts, and quick readings.
 
M

mark Ransley

Jan 1, 1970
0
A bad compressor will pull more power on startup , so will motors. A
amp meter helps in detemining condition and load and surge load for
generators. Buy your own stuff , do your own audit, you will learn as
you use it and that will help you more. Using your main meter to do
this is crazy, it means switching off eveything for extended periods, 24
hr. or more.To monitor 1 apliance. Because they must cycle. It also
wont show shorts , or the true phantom load and cost to operate. kill a
watt is a good fun toy
 
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