Saturday, January 12, 2013

Can a Smart Meter Really Help Reduce Energy Consumption and Save You Money?

This is a question a lot of homeowners asked since the first smart meter came out more than a decade ago. And it?s actually a valid question to ask considering all the hype that came with the release of this innovative device.

Unlike your traditional electric meter, a smart meter records your energy consumption at home, but doesn?t stop at that. It actually sends the information it gathers back to your energy supplier for monitoring. The purpose of creating such device is for energy companies to have accurate readings at all times and this without having a representative from the company to come over and read your meter.

Now, going back to the question, will a smart meter really help you reduce your energy consumption at home and save you money?

The direct answer is yes, but it is not in the way you are thinking it is going to. A lot of consumers think that smart meters help them reduce electricity and water consumption by actually regulating the amount of energy they use. They have this idea that if they have a smart meter at home, they can still consume the same amount of energy, but will receive a lower bill at the end of the month.

If a smart meter works that way, then it would be one of the most sought-after inventions in the world today. However, smart meters don?t work the way many people think they do. Instead of directly reducing your energy consumption at home, what a smart meter does is provide you with the information you need that will help you find ways to save energy.

For instance, smart meters can inform you if energy has gotten more expensive on a particular period. By having this information, you will be more careful in using energy at home. It can also show you how much gas or electricity you are using at different times of the day, month, or year, helping you become more strategic and efficient in using these utilities.

In short, smart meters are only a part of a bigger picture. Indeed, they help by reducing overall demand on energy, but it is still up to the consumer if he?s going to act on the information provided by the device. And with the outstanding benefits smart meters can give, it will only be a matter of time until every household in the entire planet will be using one.

About the Author: Gene Armstrong is an energy expert based in Australia. He specializes in knowledge about switching, energy efficiency, and green energy. For more info on smart meters, Gene recommends Switchwise.com.au.

Tags: energy consumption, energy efficiency

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Source: http://www.natural-environment.com/blog/2013/01/11/can-a-smart-meter-really-help-reduce-energy-consumption-and-save-you-money/

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