Why Do Home Energy Monitors Maximise Electricity Savings?

Studies by energy providers, monitor manufacturers and independent parties on home energy reduction, have proven a householders ability to stay on top of home electricity costs, is made a lot easier when immediate feedback on home electricity usage, is supplied on an easy to read in-home display.

These studies showing that homes now have the ability, to save as much as 15% to 20% or more, off their electricity usages costs, when a home electricity monitor is installed!

Without this 24/7 feedback, householders often slip back into old habits, or tend to assume they can do no more, in their attempts to bring the home electricity bill back under control.

With no feedback on electricity usage in the home, it's difficult to see what savings are going to be made during any home energy reduction attempts, until the next electricity bill arrives! Of course by then it is too late and if the changes saved you little, it has in fact cost you dearly.

With a 24/7 home electricity monitor installed in your home, there's always going to be the possibility, for future electricity reductions via your increased awareness, or via input from others. A home energy reduction system that easily proves all suggestions in real-time.

Feedback from our home electricity monitor clients, is constantly reporting of newly found savings. These savings further educating the householder on home electricity usage and costs, creating the desire for more savings to be discovered.

Which is what we at Aussie Home Energy, would say helps us greatly in our quest to help as many Australians homes, become aware and educated on home electricity costs.

January 2018 : Current Cost home energy monitor users please note MyCurrentCost dashboard was retired 15th January. This alternative free real-time dashboard is a great alternative HOME ENERGY MONITOR dashboard solution, with auto upload support for PVOutput ie solar.

This blog post and podcast brought to you by Aussie Home Energy, a major player in the HOME ELECTRICITY REDUCTION SERVICE industry in Australia.

Waterproofing Your Home Energy Monitor's Transmitter

So Why Would You Want To Waterproof Your Home Electricity Monitor's Transmitter?

Well when you're looking at monitoring electricity generated by your Solar PV, you may be faced with the problem of having to site your home electricity monitor's transmitter, out in the weather. Knowing at the same time, the transmitter is not waterproof!

So What Can You Do To Waterproof Your Transmitter?

Well a common solution is to wrap the transmitter in plastic bags and tape. The only problem being here, is this solution could be very temporary for many reasons, resulting in a damaged transmitter.

We have found a simple solution, that eliminates those plastic bags and at the same time provides a 100% waterproof solution. The transmitter is placed inside it's own waterproof plastic box. Such a box is available from Jaycar Electronics and is suitable for both the Current Cost ENVI & ENVIR Home Electricity Monitor's transmitters. The Jaycar Electronic's part number being HB6402, costing AUD $19.95. The box comes with a waterproof seal in the lid and strong clips to keep it tightly closed.

With a little invention it would not be too hard, to drill a hole in either side of the box and during any solar PV installation, pass the cable from the solar array through the box. This would allow for the current clamp to be inside the box as well. If you decide to look into this option, you may need to choose a larger box.

Whilst working with the idea of waterproofing the Current Cost transmitter, we noticed that our test transmitter's range was considerably extended, whilst outside of  the metal powerbox. In fact we extended the range of the transmitter [by line of sight] to over it's maximum of 100 metres.

After considerable testing of the Current Cost's transmitter's range, whilst in the metal clad powerbox, we found the range to be around 32 metres. Once outside of the powerbox and in the plastic box, the range was extended by a staggering 82 metres to a total of 112 metres. We noted the stronger signal allowed us to monitor the electricity usage, at areas inside and out of the home, where previously we had no signal.

Our tests were run twice with a portable battery supply powering the monitor. This allowing for very accurate signal patterns to be created around the home at six second intervals. This interval being the transmitter's transmit sequence.

What we ended up doing after this finding, was to install the transmitter permanently outside of the metal powerbox. We aligned the holes both in the back of the plastic box with those on top of the powerbox. The holes between the two, being sealed with a plastic ferule and locknut and added sealant.

If your powerbox is open to the elements, then a decision to mount the plastic box on the top, side or bottom of the powerbox will have to be made. One that provides the best waterproof solution.

So for only $20 you now have a waterproof solution to monitoring your alternative energy source and keeping your home energy monitor's transmitter range to it's maximum.

Further information on the home electricity monitors capabilities can be found on our website Aussie Home Energy.

Home Energy Reduction Podcasts Australia

Home Energy Reduction Podcasts are now available from Aussie Home Energy via their website and blog. 

A complete list of all postings, is also available in MP3 format for DOWNLOAD.

Advice on the go, for keeping your electricity costs to a minimum.

This blog post and podcast brought to you by Aussie Home Energy, a major player in the HOME ELECTRICITY REDUCTION SERVICE industry in Australia.

Maximising Solar PV Generation

The media is informing us, we are going to suffer more electricity rises in the near future. How will these electricity price rises, affect the financial gain of solar PV systems?

Shockingly enough electricity costs only have to rise a small amount, to create a large reduction in the financial gain of any solar PV system!

If you're not aware of the average Aussie home having a STANDBY ELECTRICITY issue, you need too be. Most homes we have visited, have a standby electricity rate, at anywhere between 25 watts to 250 watts plus. If your home has 150 watts of 24/7 standby electricity, this equates to 3.6 kW per day. Per year it is a staggering 1314 kW.

It does not take a lot of electrical waste within the home, to reduce a solar PV's gain.In our example Aussie home:

100 Watts Of 24/7 Standby Reduced Solar PV Gain By 40%!

Visit our website for more information on SOLAR PV GAIN.

This blog post and podcast brought to you by Aussie Home Energy, a major player in the HOME ELECTRICITY REDUCTION SERVICE industry in Australia.

Australian Electricity Supplier, Saves Homes $300 Over 3 Years

There seems to be a lot of adverts currently, for reduced electricity costs. Such as this one, aired on television last week. "Save $300 Off Your Electricity Costs, Over 3 Years".

Adverts such as this, along with a team of door knocking electricity provider's foot patrols, seem to be on every corner, of every street! Offering householders, supposedly great offers to help them save on electricity costs. And of course all too easy, when you change electricity provider.

Now whilst saving on electricity costs, is a good idea for all, is it the best way for the householder to save? Of course it is a great way for the electricity supplier, to increase market share, with the kickback being to the householder, a price reduction. But one thing it is NOT, is the best way for the householder to save on electricity costs. And what will some of those householders do, when they have switched providers? Well, assume they cannot do anything else!

The best way to save on electricity costs, is to follow the proven process of,

• Becoming aware of how you are charged for electricity, and have a full understanding of the bill
• Being aware of your electricity usage
• Being aware of where you are using electricity
• Learning how to reduce the electricity usage
• Having a feedback system, to keep you on track

Failing with this proven common sense process, means you will carry on being, just a BILL PAYER!

Looking at the offer in more detail, $300 over 3 years equates to only $25, per quarterly bill! For most homes, that is not really a saving of great magnitude.

From experience we would say most homes, with a bill over $500 per quarter, could easily save at least $50 per quarter. So if your a home, with a quarterly bill of $750, $1000 or $1500 plus, imagine what you could be saving?

We would argue, all Aussie homes need to save far more than $25 per bill! It is not just the action of savings here, but energy reduction. These offers of reduced electricity costs, do nothing  to assist Aussie homes with home energy reduction. We need to slash energy waste, as we are very wasteful. Wasteful because we're, none the wiser. What Australia needs to become, is a nation that reduces it's home energy usage on mass. This will not happen though with a $25 per bill saving, but through a process that involves :

AWARENESS, EDUCATION & FEEDBACK!

Of course, that is what Aussie Home Energy offers all of their Home Electricity Audit clients with. And who knows, how much you could save over time, with that kind of an insight.

So what does the householder choosing the $300 offer get? Well exactly $25 off the bill, every quarter, for three years. But nothing more! 

NO AWARENESS.
NO EDUCATION.
NO FEEDBACK.

Simply put, the householder remains, a BILL PAYER!

Ask yourself, what would you rather be? Our clients would tell anyone, it 100% makes sense, to become an educated electricity user.

By doing this, you will not just move on from being a bill payer, but become fully aware of,

• What uses electricity in your home and why
• When the most & least electricity is being used
• What the cheapest rates for electricity are, at various times of day
• How to reduce your electricity usage and costs further
• Smart shopping, when looking for new electrical appliances

The problem with adverts for switching electricity providers, when marketed solely as electricity savings, is that they simply keep householders in the loop of, BILL PAYER MODE ONLY! Householders who, are still not aware of home electricity reduction options. Options that could save them far more than $25 per quarterly bill.

Interestingly if you do the homework on some of these offers, you may find you are going to be charged exit fees, when you decide to change back to your previous provider. Exit fees of course, for breaking that three year contract. Fees that in some cases are so steep, most of your savings up to that date, will be gone in a flash!

So what makes sense here, is the fact that the best way to save, is to become educated on electricity usage and costs. Of course the electricity provider, would like you to remain just a bill payer.

So is it not time for you to start your Home Electricity Reduction Program?

This blog post and podcast brought to you by Aussie Home Energy, a major player in the HOME ELECTRICITY REDUCTION SERVICE industry in Australia.

Educated Aussie Shoppers Make The Best Choice

One of the most important ways to make the best choice of choosing a new electrical appliance, is to be educated on the energy label's information. By fully understanding the energy rating label, you will have an insight into the annual running costs for the appliance. 

Furthermore you will have a little knowledge to gain the upper hand on the salesman, thus being able to tell whether he or she is telling you the truth on other matters. Read our full analysis of the Australian Energy Label on our website.

Help Us Educate Others - Add This To Your Website

If you're online with a website and wish to educate your shoppers, then feel free to copy the code and add it to your site.

This blog post and podcast brought to you by Aussie Home Energy, a major player in the HOME ELECTRICITY REDUCTION SERVICE industry in Australia.

How Smart Is The Smart Meter?

How Smart Is Your Meter?

Ever wondered, what a smart meter's full range of capabilities are? What do you know about your smart meter?

Whilst most householders in Australia have heard of smart meters, there seems to be  little understanding by the householder, of what the smart meter can do, for both the householder and the electricity supply provider.

To gain an insight into what a successful installation of smart meters can do, we will use the major Italian electricity provider, Enel, as an example.

Enel, during 2000 to 2005, installed smart meters to its entire customer base of 27 million households.

Smart meters are fully electronic, and very smart. They come with integrated bi-directional communications, advanced power measurement and management capabilities, an integrated software-controllable disconnect switch, and are further, solid-state by design.

The meters are able to communicate over low voltage power lines, using a  standards based power line technology, from Echelon Corporation. This communication, is sent to Echelon data concentrators, further switching to internet protocol, before being sent to, Enel's enterprise servers.

Advanced remote features of the smart meter include:

• Turning a customer's power on or off.
• Reading the electricity usage from the meter.
• Detecting a service outage.
• Detecting unauthorised use of electricity.
• Changing the maximum amount of electricity, that a customer can use.
• Changing the meter's billing plan, from credit to prepay.
• Changing the tariffs.

Concerns have been raised about low income and vulnerable consumers, not benefiting from the new 'time of use' tariffs. In Victoria for example, the Government halted the roll out of smart meters, because they were concerned new tariffs, would add to the hardship of customers already struggling, to afford their energy bills. Whilst smart meters, offer many potential benefits, there are concerns that many of the possible consumer benefits, will not be realised.

Questions have been raised about privacy issues, associated with smart meters. And there are many aspects of this 'smart metering' technology that remain questionable. Here in Australia, there seems to be a growing number of householders with billing errors, where bills have risen dramatically without the increase being due to the householder's usage increasing.

Could the methodology itself be a short sighted solution? Could the concept of peak hours change, as an increasing amount of householders use their appliances at night, creating a new peak time?

Further criticism, of the smart metering system, has raised issues of poor, or lacking system security. Such as the possibility of a virus, spreading throughout the system, creating an energy crisis, started by a foreign entity.

As with most new technologies, that are designed and installed correctly, great positive outcomes are achievable. It will always pay in the long run, to be fully aware of all possible variable outcomes, before bringing a new technology to the general population.

To learn about optional independent monitoring and analysis of your electricity usage and / or solar pv system's output, visit our ONLINE ELECTRICITY MONITORING page, where we make the task of getting your data online, very easy.

This blog post and podcast brought to you by Aussie Home Energy, a major player in the HOME ELECTRICITY REDUCTION SERVICE industry in Australia.