Conducting an Experiment

Check the effect changes can make on your usage

You can use home area network monitors to conduct experiments in your home or business. You can see how much it costs to run a variety of electronic equipment and check the usage of major appliances like an electric oven or clothes dryer.

You can also determine how much energy your home is using 24/7. Try going through your house and turning off lights and equipment that you can do so safely. The remaining electricity you see are for appliances that always run (such as your refrigerator) and what is called “vampire load.”

Here are two experiments you can try with your kids. First, make sure your monitor is plugged in and working. If you have a portable device, make sure it has fresh batteries.

Safety first! Supervise children and never conduct experiments near water like a sink.

Hair Dryer

Equipment needed:
Monitor, or the app connected to your monitor
Hair dryer

  1. Note your home’s baseline. This is how much electricity you’re using before you start the experiment.
  2. Plug in and turn on your hair dryer. Wait a few seconds, and your usage will increase. Note the new number on your monitor.
  3. Turn off your hair dryer and watch your usage decrease.
  4. Calculate the difference in usage by subtracting the increase from your baseline. This is how much your hair dryer costs you to run per hour.

Electric Oven

Equipment needed:
Monitor, or the app connected to your monitor
Major electric appliance such as electric oven or clothes dryer

  1. Note your home’s baseline. This is how much electricity you’re using before you start the experiment.
  2. Turn on your oven or clothes dryer. Wait a few seconds, and your usage will increase. Note the new number on your monitor.
  3. Turn off your appliance.
  4. Calculate the difference in usage by subtracting the increase from your baseline This is how much that appliance costs to run per hour.