Loan of monitor can show you how power-hungry appliances are

Published 9:50 pm Sunday, April 4, 2010

The next time you go to the library, you could get a shock.

Snohomish County PUD and Sno-Isle Libraries are offering watt meters for check-out so customers can see how much electricity home appliances and other electronics use. The idea is that using these gadgets will encourage people to lower their energy consumption, and therefore their utility bills.

“You can figure out your electric expense by the day, the week or the month,” PUD spokesman Neil Neroutsos said.

The meters were first made available for check-out with a pilot program at the Edmonds Public Library this month. The program arrives at other branches later in the year: Lake Stevens in August, Marysville in September, Stanwood in October and Mukilteo in November.

The meters are about the size of pocket calculator. Appliances plug into the meter, which in turn plugs into an outlet. That allows customers to see the amount of the energy a device uses in customer kilowatt-hours, the measurement the PUD uses for billing.

Meter check-outs are for two weeks. When customers borrow a meter, they also will receive energy-saving tips and contact information for PUD conservation programs.

Similar devices retail for about $20.

The PUD and the library system also are giving energy-conservation presentations. For kids, there’s “Wanda Flipplefairy” from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Saturday at the Edmonds library, 650 Main St. For adults, there’s “Identifying Energy Savings: Save Energy and Money with the PUD” from 7 to 8 p.m. April 12. Attendees receive two free compact florescent light bulbs.

For more details, contact Sno-Isle Libraries at 360-651-7000 or toll-free at 877-766-4753, or online at www.sno-isle.org. Contact Snohomish County PUD at 425-783-1700 or www.snopud.com.

Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465, nhaglund@heraldnet.com.