How many people can honestly say they know how much electricity their television uses?  What about a  home computer, or microwave?  Even with the burgeoning installation of smart meters coupled with utility companies that provide more and better access to data, consumers are still largely uncertain about how much energy their households consume   

William Thomson (a.k.a. Lord Kelvin)—the 1900’s pre-eminent British engineer and scientist—is oft-quoted as saying “you can’t manage what you can’t measure.”  If you don’t have complete and accurate information on how much electricity the activities and appliances in your household are consuming, it is extremely difficult to take any meaningful action to reduce your household’s electricity costs.

But fear not, the City of Alexandria and the Alexandria Library have teamed up to help Alexandria residents measure their household electricity use.  With library card in hand, pay a visit to your local Alexandria library branch and check out a Kill-a-Watt^TM meter.  This simple device provides an easy way to measure the elusive electricity those electronics and appliances are consuming.  Simply plug in the Kill-a-Watt^TM meter; plug in your computer, DVD player, microwave, or any other electronic device to find out how much electricity is flowing.

Kill-a-Watt^TM Meter

And while you’re at the library, why not browse around and check out a book? Turn off the television, curl up with a good read, and save a little on your electricity costs too! 

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