Welcome to Energy Consumption (someday: more pages; see the wiki!).

Q: WATTS UP? or KILL A WATT ... which should I buy and from where?

A: I got my first KILL A WATT for $40-something at Radio Shack. I own four kinds of watt meter now, but the KILL A WATT and WATTS UP? are the two readily-available products. The KILL A WATT is a consumer-oriented device designed to plug flush to the wall. It has some interesting outputs like power factor, hertz, and "VA" (vs. the sine-waved "watts" average that you actually pay for) that the original WATTS UP? lacked. The WATTS UP? is built tougher, originally for the classroom, has a nice 6 foot cord, can be programed to your electricity costs, and features a dollar readout. The Pro model even collects data over time and makes it available over USB (don't know what the software is like). It costs more than twice as much, but the WATTS UP? 2.0 seems accurate to a tenth of a watt (above a watt or so, depending on Power Factor, etc) and now (in the 2.0 version) has even more geeky readouts (like duty cycle) than the KILL A WATT. Not to be outdone, The KILL A WATT now has an "EZ" version that calculates costs over time and costs much less than the Watts Up?.

The Brand® folks claim that their meters are superior at lower wattages (<=10W?). That may have been true (particularly of the original non-tenth-of-a-watt Watts Up? 1.0 which is truly confused by low wattages and distant-from 1 power factors), but my tests showed no significant difference between Brand® meters and the KILL A WATT or WATTS UP? 2.0. In my experience and testing these two readily-available mass-produced meters are good enough to figure out what you want to know: should I -- perhaps automatically -- switch off the power strip to this thing when I'm not using it? How much does my entire entertainent system/computer desk draw ... even when it is off? For small, lower wattage devices, I cross-check the amount of emitted heat: power bricks in particular are usually warm at 2-5W. Energy Star appliances, including some replacement power bricks from Radio Shack do not get as warm / don't waste as much energy.

If you just want to measure your stuff and then share it with friends, a KILL A WATT is great. If you think you'll be helping others, spring for the WATTS UP? 2.0. I've found both in retail stores (like Fry's), but usually you have to order them online (see links at the left). FYI, EC.org supporters have had bad service experiences with SupermediaStore.com and the Brand® folks (who, at least in the past, built their own meters -- with not the best qualitiy controls).

Additional Watt Meters (see sidebar)

• The Kill-A-Watt EZ ($60) calculates and projects costs!
• AC Cost Controller $30 doesn't seem to be available any more (formerly AC Cost control which originally had no reading for watts).
• Watt-X (no watts) calculates and doesn't forget ($50; data sheet)

Whole House Energy Monitors

• PowerCost Monitor ($125, $140)
• The Energy Detective (TED; $140)
• Ewgeco is a whole-home/business measurement system that includes electricity, water, and gas!
• The Wattson is a limited-edition product similar to TED except that it looks cooler.

Other Products

• The Smart Strip power strip toggles itself when one device goes to sleep ($30) while the (discontinued) Mini Power Minder cuts power to peripherals when its USB connection indicates the computer is asleep.
• Sensor Plug (REWilliams sells light switches too)
• per-circuit watt meters from meterusa.com

Stores

• BITS LTD does the Smart Strip and sells LED bulbs, sensor plugs, etc.
• electricitymetering.com sells lots of interesting (if sometimes expensive) devices. The Energy Detective (TED; $140) and similar look very interesting. powermeterstore.com appears to be another view into the same store.
• Westside Electric & Lighting sells occupancy sensors and more.
• good common sense sells impact-reducing items including motion-sensing power strips.

Plain old links

• Popular Science presents a world-wide renewable energy map in flash.
• WattStopper supposedly has its headquarters in nearby Santa Clara.
• Mr. Electricity talks about whole house meters too!
• METER MAIDS article from Wired (scroll down). [thanks Ned]