BUILD THIS HOME APPLIANCE WATT METER/ WATT-HOUR METER

摘要

Why do I need a watt meter? A very valid question to ask. As the West Coast energy shortages have shown, we are tremendously dependent on electrical energy. Unfortunately, new power-generating plants are not welcome in most communities, as all of them―whether fossil fuel, nuclear, hydro, or even wind-powered―have some environmental impact. Mix the environmental concerns with politics, and one can glimpse the mess electrical utilities have become. The purpose of this article is not to discuss the messy details of energy, but what the average person can do to alleviate the problem. The answer is, quite a lot, by energy conservation measures. No, I'm not advocating that you set your thermostat at 85°F in the summertime. The key is smart conservation measures, the type that still allow you to maintain comfort and productivity, while reducing energy consumption. You know a few basic tricks, for instance, replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps. Those are the obvious ones, but how about the not-so-obvious energy wasters? Your house is full of them, from battery chargers to electronic appliances that, when turned-off, in reality only go into a standby mode. The power consumption in that mode can be surprisingly high. There they sit, day in and day out, consuming more than their fair share of watts, just doing nothing but waiting for somebody to turn them on.