| Even before the Global Financial Crisis rolled in waves | | | | * Indirect Home Energy Saving Devices |
| throughout the country and across the globe, people | | | | These devices are originally intended for a different |
| have been looking for innovative and practical ways to | | | | purpose but its use will have indirect results in energy |
| conserve energy. This scenario is through even on | | | | and electricity savings. One of the best examples is a |
| various states like Texas where Energy Deregulation | | | | light dimmer switch. Its main purpose is to reduce the |
| has been the norm for a considerable number of | | | | intensity of light in a particular area, but in doing so it |
| years now, giving residents the power to select their | | | | would also result in less electricity consumed by the |
| Retail Electric Providers. | | | | lighting equipment. Other devices include automatic |
| The need for energy saving measures continues to be | | | | timers, timer switches, infrared-activated switches, |
| one of the most important considerations in Texas and | | | | motion-activated switches, power bars with surge |
| in various states and would continue to be a regular | | | | protectors, and in some more sophisticated abodes - |
| practice unless really cheap electricity is ever | | | | home automation systems. |
| produced for mass distribution. Several energy saving | | | | * Direct Home Energy Saving Devices |
| devices have come out in the market in a bid to help | | | | On the other hand, devices that are intended to |
| homes and businesses achieve their aim in conserving | | | | conserve electricity are the direct home energy saving |
| Texas electricity. The question that arises however is | | | | devices. These devices are proven to save a certain |
| whether these energy saving devices actually work or | | | | percentage of energy when used as compared to |
| not. | | | | standard functioning of a device or appliances. Such |
| The following are some of the energy saving devices | | | | energy saving devices include: programmable |
| that are available in the market. Some would actually | | | | thermostats that can set and maintain temperature to |
| help residents save on their Texas electric bills, while | | | | comfortable and cost-saving minimum comfortable |
| others do not deliver on what they claim to do in | | | | levels; stand-by power savers which cut power to an |
| helping save energy. It would be up to the users to | | | | appliances when idle or not in use; thermally controlled |
| study which devices would work for them and would | | | | switches that shuts a particular device on or off based |
| cater to their needs, while being very careful not to fall | | | | on a pre-set temperature level; and air conditioner |
| prey to bogus devices that claim energy savings that | | | | energy saving devices, which turns off the |
| appears too good to be true. | | | | compressor when the cooling coils are already |
| * Meters and Other Monitoring Devices | | | | thermodynamically saturated. |
| People can do a lot more if they can actually measure | | | | * Bogus Home Energy Saving Devices |
| or monitor something and this holds true with energy. | | | | And then there are these bogus or questionable |
| Meters are practical energy saving devices that can | | | | devices that claim outrageous energy savings from |
| help you monitor your electricity consumption as well | | | | 10% or up to 30% or even more. These devices cost |
| as other energy utilities. Thermostats are some of the | | | | a considerable amount and can come as a plug-in |
| most common and can help you monitor temperature | | | | device or installed through the circuit breakers. |
| levels of cooling appliances as well as determine | | | | However, homeowners should be wary of using these |
| poorly insulated sections of a home or a building. Gas | | | | devices and make sure that they actually save energy |
| meters and electrical meters can do the same thing, | | | | - which means less wattage consumption and less |
| providing owners their actual energy usages and | | | | carbon footprint - and not just correct the inaccuracy |
| consumptions. | | | | of measurements by your power meters. |
| Other monitoring devices can be the plug-in electrical | | | | These devices also work on inductive loads like |
| monitor type used for individual electrical devices or | | | | motors only like a blender or a fan and would have no |
| appliances, or it can be a more sophisticated electricity | | | | significant impact on resistive loads such as heating |
| monitor that can measure full-house usages and | | | | and lighting devices. So, it would be really worth your |
| consumptions. Such devices are also used to monitor | | | | while to carefully study what these devices can really |
| for any electrical leaks in appliances and lines by | | | | do before committing yourself to spending hundreds or |
| monitoring any drain or consumption when all known | | | | even thousands - and have minimal impact on your |
| electrical devices have been turned off. | | | | electricity and energy savings in the long run. |