Free monitors at library help cut power wastage

Similar trials were held through libraries in Eastbourne, Hastings and Lewes, and with more than 800 residents having now tried the monitors for themselves, the county council is keen to see many more making use of the devices.

A council spokeswoman said: “The monitors show how much electricity a householder is using at any given moment, how much money this costs and an estimate of the carbon dioxide produced in generating the electricity.

“You can see immediately when you switch off something that is on stand-by, or turn an appliance on, and thus identiofy where savings can be made.”

Monitors simply clip around an incoming supply cable, usually close to a property’s electricity meter, and the data collected is transmitted to a portable handset. The equipment can initially be borrowed free for three weeks, with an option to extend this for a further three weeks.

• Further information is available at: www.eastsussex.gov.uk/environment/