This kind of feedback allows for easy experimentation. Does opening the windows and running four fans at full blast use less power than running the AC? And if so, how much lower is it?
The article is written from the perspective of someone who likes gadgets, but is generally clueless about how much electricity all those appliances are using. Best of all, he figured out whether it was all worth it. It's one thing to invest in energy savings, but if it costs more to install everything than what you'll save on your bill, then it doesn't make too much sense.
Personally, I found the most value from the basic real-time display. Stick it in some well-trafficked spot and you're sure to see it numerous times per day, getting a decent sense of how your home's power load varies through the day and throughout the year.
As for Power Smart Pricing customers, it is even more important to know how much electricity you are using in real-time. This extra piece of information would make saving even easier. It would essentially complete the whole cost picture. And think, this all in comparison to the vast majority of customers who see a snapshot once a month.
Read the full Ars Technica review here.
