Inhabitat Earth Day special: seven gadgets that help you save energy -- Engadget

The Power Smart Pricing Price Light, better known as the Energy Orb, got some recent press on an influential technology and gadget blog. It may have had more to do with Earth Day, but it was still nice to come across this simple gadget that has accomplished a lot. When most manufacturers are packing as many features and gizmos into our lives as possible (see cell phones), the Price Light has been so effective by being so simple.

The Energy Orb changes color based on the price of electricity. When the price is low, it's blue. As the price goes up, it changes from green to yellow to red. This offers, for lack of a better word, glancibility. Meaning you can just glance at it, and in the blink of an eye you have some useful information. It can be both effectively ignored, and effectively responsive.

The Power Smart Pricing program used to offer a discounted version of the Energy Orb for participants that would help customers quickly get a sense of the price of electricity. While we always do our best to alert our customers about high prices, those participants that had a price light would reduce their usage an extra 10% during the same time period.

As you can see from the picture above, it doesn't have any switches, modes or fancy touch screens. It is just a light that changes color, and in this case its saves energy and, of course, money.

To learn more about the Energy Orb and 7 other energy saving gadgets including something called the UFO Powercenter click here.

CNT Energy also wrote a detailed report about the effects of the Price Light on Power Smart Pricing customers that you can download here (pdf).

RSVP to Summer Workshops Online

Are you interested in attending a PSP Summer Readiness Workshop??? You should be.  RSVP online at www.PowerSmartPricing.org/rsvp2010.

Workshop schedule:

• May 4, 6:30 p.m., Decatur Public Library, 130 N. Franklin St., Decatur

• May 5, 6:30 p.m., Normal Public Library, 206 W. College Ave., Normal

• May 6, 6:30 p.m., Champaign Public Library, 200 W. Green St., Champaign

• May 11, 6:30 p.m., Peoria Public Library, Lake View Branch, 1137 W. Lake Ave., Peoria

• May 12, 6:30 p.m., Jacksonville Public Library, 201 W. College Ave., Jacksonville

• May 13, 6 p.m., Quincy Public Library, 526 Jersey St., Quincy

• May 18, 6:30 p.m., Carbondale Civic Center, 200 S Illinois Ave., Carbondale

• May 19, 6 p.m., Belleville Public Library, 121 E. Washington St., Belleville

• May 20, 6:30 p.m., Collinsville Public Library, 408 W Main St., Collinsville

5 Energy Saving Lightbulbs Coming Soon

According to the US EPA, lighting accounts for roughly 20 % of the a household electric bills. Federal policy is fostering the development of more energy efficient lighting to outshine (pun intended) bulbs that haven't seen much improvement in the past 100 years. First to knock the incandescents of its mantle was the Compact Fluorescent Light bulb, or CFL. Now Light Emitting Diodes, or more commonly LEDs, are gaining traction.

Light most emerging technologies the prices are high. Greater competition within the industry has forced the price of these light bulbs to drop fairly dramatically over the past couple years. However the prices are still too high to break through just yet. The current round of offerings cost between $40 and $50 a bulb.

However, the even at that price they are cost effective against your old incandescent bulb. The new bulbs deliver the same amount of light while using just 25% of the electricity, and they last 25 times longer. For more on the cost effectiveness of LEDs click here.

The market for these bulbs will be people who are looking to lower their electric bill and ease their burden on the environment. Many of these customers have probably recently outfitted their house with CFLs. LEDs still offer significant advantages over CFLs. They last 10 times longer, no hazardous materials, do not emit ambient heat (which contributes to your cooling costs) and are more energy efficient.

5 LED Bulbs You Can (Soon) Buy To Replace Incandescents

2010 PSP Summer Readiness Workshop Schedule

This May the Power Smart Pricing team will host workshops to help Illinois households better manage their summer electricity costs. Attend a workshop to learn how to save more energy and money at home.

• Get tips on managing your summer electricity usage and costs with the Power Smart Pricing program.
• Discover no-cost and low-cost ways to save energy.
• Learn which energy-saving home improvements could offer the best return on your investment.
• Get advice on how you can protect the environment by using energy efficiently.

Workshop Schedule:

• May 4, 6:30 p.m., Decatur Public Library, 130 N. Franklin St., Decatur
• May 5, 6:30 p.m., Normal Public Library, 206 W. College Ave., Normal
• May 6, 6:30 p.m., Champaign Public Library, 200 W. Green St., Champaign
• May 11, 6:30 p.m., Peoria Public Library, Lake View Branch, 1137 W. Lake Ave., Peoria
• May 12, 6:30 p.m., Jacksonville Public Library, 201 W. College Ave., Jacksonville
• May 13, 6 p.m., Quincy Public Library, 526 Jersey St., Quincy
• May 18, 6:30 p.m., Carbondale Civic Center, 200 S Illinois Ave., Carbondale
• May 19, 6 p.m., Belleville Public Library, 121 E. Washington St., Belleville
• May 20, 6:30 p.m., Collinsville Public Library, 408 W Main St., Collinsville

Workshops are free of charge and refreshments will be provided. 

RSVP to info@PowerSmartPricing.org or 1-877-655-6028 or sign up at www.PowerSmartPricing.org/rsvp2010.

We look forward to seeing you soon!