would It be useful for you to know in real time your house power consumption?

Question

I'm trying to know if a project that tells you in real time your power consumption would be worthy.
The idea is that you create consumption planes, and if you are over it, a pc application warns you and gives you some sugestions to decrease your consumption in real time.

Answer 1

Research on goal setting by psychologists Gary Latham and Ed Locke would suggest that having feedback alone not a very effective way to change behavior. Their research has repeatedly demonstrated that having having feedback (i.e., information about power consumption) without having goals for lowering power consumption is as ineffective as having neither goals nor feedback.



Another form of the same question would be to ask if having a speedometer on your car is associated with driving the speed limit. A speedometer certain helps people who are motivated to drive the speed limit maintain a legal speed, but without the goal, the gauge has no inherent impact on behavior.

Answer 2

Well built and maintained fireplaces are safe to use but not very efficient for heating. Wood stoves are a little better. Pellet stoves are very popular these days burning pellets made from sawdust but most require some electricity to run. They are very efficient. A generator is a good idea too. There are some pretty quiet models and the can be kept in an sheltered area near the house. You can have a easy hook up jack and balance transfer switch installed to make it easy to hook up when the power goes out.. After spending 6 days with no electricity after a tropical storm (and I live 10 miles from the Capital and White House), we kept two refrigerators, a sump pump, furnace for hot water, the bedroom AC unit for night time sleeping, and a TV with DirecTV running with a medium sized 5.5 kilowatt model. It uses about 5 - 6 gallons of gas a day. 6 days is a long time without electricity. -Brian

Answer 3

it doesnt matter the communists in the United States are already taking care of it. incandesent lite bulbs have been outlawed u have until 2012 no mas after that. What a hazardous waste problem from all those compact flouresents. hey working on fixing power use energy savings so future hazardous waste issues not involved. wait check new title 24 laws. u get a new fm transmitter thermostat. transmit receives signal from to power company / control agency. they have guidelines they may have to lower the temp in your house 75 way to high 68 recommended. might have to turn u off completely u know governmental emergencies. oh fireplaces cant use them makes the air to smokey. so u coming up with a personal responsibility helping tool is nonsense. the government knows best. when we gamble on a house taking it from somebody with no money down terrible loan didnt make the 60g's in 3 months. the goverment will help u then too. cuz u shouldnt be a intelligent responsible individual making the right decisions on your on own. thats bad for communism. so spill some hot coffee in your lap, hurt yourself on a diving board, tripping, falling or something sue get rich its not your fault. be happy! moo. Dam it! What was your question again?

Answer 4

ITs not a BAD idea... Not really a "I'll take a million!" idea either.



Could definitely make power consumption into a game (like the mpg gauge in a vehicle). And that could help people.

Answer 5

Sure. The problem would be the on and off nature of many appliances, such as refrigerators and furnace blowers. You would need to program those items into your program.

Answer 6

yes

Answer 7

If I am not mistaken, it has already been done.