Finally, we have installed our energy saving meter. Not “in minutes” as it said on the box, but it’s done. The sensor is clipped on the fourth cable of the electricity meter, the transmitter is mounted nearby and I have the monitor right here. The default settings on the meter aren’t set up for the UK and you need to know voltage, your electricity tariff per kWh (don’t forget to add VAT) and the carbon ratio (still not sure of this so left it on default of 0.43kg.CO2/kWh). Now I can “start saving immediately” as I move around the house seeing what appliances use the most electricity – obviously I only start saving if I turn them off and as it’s a cold, darkish day I’ll be needing heat and light and the occasional coffee. At the moment I’m using 0.522kW but when I turn on all the lights in the living room it jumps up to 0.968kW. But what is the cost, what can I save? I can switch to electricity cost mode to see that without lights I’m spending 0.046 i.e. nearly 1/2 pence. With the lights on, the cost is nearly 1 pence per hour. Well, it’s not very much, but apparently having an energy monitor does make people switch things off and cut their consumption by up to a quarter over the year. According to www.energysavingtrust.org.uk almost half of the UK’s C02 emissions come from the energy we use every day – at home and when we travel. So if we all commit to saving 20% of the energy we use every day then we can help fight climate change. Over the next few weeks we will see what watts we can save and I will carry my smart meter to the bedroom and check out how much my new, luxury, king-sized electric under blanket is consuming – I can always turn Alec’s half off.