any tips please for the best Energy monitor to buy?

[mckenzie]

Following on from my posting about high electricity bills, we have decided to get an energy monitor (thank you Grendelsmum).

There are quite a few different ones available it seems. Would anyone recommend a particular model (or steer me clear of any)?

TIA

bump

We have the Owl one. I hoped it would encourage the dc to turn off lights etc, but no such luck! It has made me and dh a lot more conscious of our energy consumption.

Ours is really elderly (well, 3 years old!), so a whole load of new ones are on the market. I think ours has become the OWL, as they look pretty similar.

The Wattson looks quite funky, and you get to compare with other people online. It flashes different colours, so it might be more encouraging for children?

Apparently Prince Charles has 6 Wattsons!

I've heard the Owl is good. You may not be aware, but every house in the UK will have to have a smart ga and electricity meter by 2020 (government mandate). You will be able to see your energy usage going up and down on the meter, or an in-home display. Might be worth bearing this in mind, before you fork out £60 or so for the Owl or similar.

thanks guys. I read the meter last night just before turning the last light out and going to bed and read it again first thing this morning. It had moved 6 units. That's quite a lot isn't it?

They're much less than £60 nowadays - I think Owl's are down to more like £25 - £30

thanks Harriet. the Owl one I have been looking at is £34.