How to Monitor Your Home’s Energy Usage

Most of us take electricity for granted, not considering the fact that it has to come from somewhere. Tracking your energy usage is your first line of defense against wasting energy and overspending on electricity. Most Texas homes are equipped with smart meters, which make tracking energy consumption easier than ever. Here is how you can monitor your home’s energy usage. 

How Smart Meters Make Tracking Easy

When you use a smart meter, you’re able to see details about your energy consumption without the help of a technician. Simply link your smart meter to an in-home display or a web portal, and you’ll see exactly how much energy you’re using and where you’re using it. 

Apps for Monitoring Energy Usage

In today’s world, not everyone has a computer or wants to use their computer every day. If you depend more on your cellphone as a source of information, you can install an app to keep track of your energy usage. These are a few of the most popular apps: 

• Green Outlet helps you figure out which electronics use the most electricity and alerts you if your home emits more than the recommended carbon usage based on local government regulations. 
• Nest Mobile works with Nest thermostats to allow you to monitor and control the amount of energy you consume. You can change your house’s thermostat setting no matter where you are for maximum efficiency. 
• Meter Readings gives you a record of any utility meter you connect to it, allowing you to track up to 9 meters. It provides you with daily usage data, laid out in simple graphs that allow you to understand your usage and how it compares with the national average. 

Energy Monitoring with Smart Home Devices

Adding smart home devices to your home can reduce your electric bill, especially since you can control them when you’re not at home. Some devices, like smart thermostats, smart plugs and smart power strips, allow you to monitor your electrical usage by connecting them to a smart device like a cellphone. They can also help you save on electricity bills by turning off or going into a more neutral state when not in use. 

Setting Energy Saving Goals

Once you’ve monitored your energy usage, you can start setting energy saving goals. Set realistic goals based on your current habits, like saving a certain amount of money or adding in energy-saving habits like unplugging unused charging stations and turning up the AC before you leave the house. Every little bit counts toward saving money on electricity and reducing your impact on the environment. 

Most people could afford to use less electricity, and by monitoring your energy usage, you’ll be on your way to saving money and helping the environment by using less. Looking for more ways to save money on your Texas electricity bill? Give Pronto Power a call at 844-621-2852.