Get smart about energy use

A hundred inner city households will be given the chance to drastically curb their carbon footprint in the coming months.
Under a new trial, the Sydney City Council is seeking volunteers to get an energy monitor installed for free that measures the running costs of household energy output.
Electronics and appliances such as fridges, clothes dryers, televisions and heaters can all be monitored, giving people more control over their energy use.
The scheme corresponds with the Sustainable Sydney 2030 carbon reduction targets with the City of Sydney Mayor Clover Moore calling it “a win for residents’ pockets and the environment.”
“The energy monitors allows residents to set household targets and better manage their bills,” she said.
The monitors, or ‘smart meters,’ have a wireless visual display demonstrating how much electricity is being used at any given time, how much your energy use is costing and the amount of greenhouse gas emissions being generated.
“Energy efficiency is vital if we are to tackle climate change and their energy monitor will assist residents identify their consumption patterns and make more informed energy choices,” the Lord Mayor said.
The City will collaborate with Energy Australia to analyse energy usage data from the participating households, both before and during the 12-month trial.
The City is also setting up a program where people will be able to loan ‘Power Mates,’ a similar product to the smart meter, from several libraries across the inner city and measure how much electricity their household appliances use, as well as the associated environmental and monetary costs.
City of Sydney Spokesperson Josh MacKenzie says that, so far, the smart meter initiative has been quite successful, with spaces to take part in the trial filling up quickly.