When we conduct in-home audits for high-usage clients, we often bring with us and set up a Rainforest monitor.

This device usually only takes 15 minutes to set up, but it is invaluable for knowing what is going in your house regarding your electricity use.  The way it works is quite simple. These monitors are wirelessly connected to your home’s smart meter, showing the same information in your smart meter.

Once a monitor is set up, it easy to use and can help you determine just how much electricity the house is consuming at any one moment. Alternatively, you could also stand outside and record the data on your smarter meter while having someone in your house turn things on and off, but a Rainforest monitor is much more convenient and not that expensive. Once plugged in and running, the base reading on the Rainforest device might show 1800 watts (usually displayed as 1.8kW) meaning that at that very moment that’s how much electricity you are using. 

But now you can experiment and turn things on and off, noticing the difference by just reading the monitor screen.  For example, to test out Rainforest monitor, note what the reading is and then turn on the microwave for 2 minutes.  You will see the reading spike by 1100 or 1400 or 1600 watts. Now, you will know just what the microwave uses and how the monitor works.  (BTW, there is no reason not to use microwaves for heating food, drinks, etc., they are only on for a few minutes at a time.)

If you watch the monitor for 15 minutes or so without turning anything else on, you may see it fluctuate by 180 watts or more. Well, that is likely due to your refrigerator cycling on and off. 

Here is what you might try out now.

Walk into your kitchen and turn on the lights you normally use.  You may be surprised, especially if you haven’t changed out the overhead lights for LED bulbs. I have found some kitchens to use 800 to 2000 watts because there are numerous spotlights in the ceiling (50 MR-16 bulbs or 65 watt PAR-30 floods) and several 100-watt bulbs over the obligatory kitchen island.

Continue to walk around the house and try out other devices.  If you have an electric clothes dryer, you may find that it uses up to 5000 watts at the peak of its cycle.  Or that your gas furnace uses 500 watts to run the hot air blower fan.  If you have an electric oven, it can use 2000-4000 watts while baking, and those space heaters can use 800-1600 watts.  If you have a pool, turn on the pool pumps and see if they use 1800 watts for the circulation pump and another 1000 for the sweep. While you are at it, check how many hours the pumps are set to run since they draw quite a bit of electricity.

Now that you have some data, the next step is to look at your utility bill and find your average kilowatt price for the month. Or try a service like our friends at HomeIntel to find even more information about your usage. (Disclosure: some of the writers and experts here also work with HomeIntel.)

Say your average kilowatt price per hour (kWh) is $.30.  (A kilowatt is 1000 watts and you are charged for each 1000 watts used per hour.)  You now know that the pool equipment costs you over $4/day or $120/month – and you’re not even using the pool for 6 months out of the year.

After you have run some tests in your home (and hopefully made changes), you can then leave the Rainforest monitor in a convenient place (such as the kitchen) for anyone to see just what is going on while they are using the common household appliances.  The device can be purchased for as little as $70 at sites such as Amazon. (Disclosure: We get no commissions for our links to Amazon.com. For your information only).