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Kill-A-Watt Challenge

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The Georgia Kill-A-Watt Challenge

An initiative of the Governor’s Energy Challenge, encouraging you to improve your energy efficiency.

“Undertaking this challenge to conserve energy will help ensure that Georgia’s natural resources are protected for future generations to use and to enjoy.” …Governor Sonny Perdue

The Governor’s Energy Challenge has partnered with Georgia Public Library Services to offer Georgia residents an opportunity to measure the energy consumption of appliances throughout their home and to take steps to reduce their electricity consumption and lower their utility bills.

By checking out a Kill A Watt unit, you have taken the first step to conserving electricity in your home. Read below for some advice on how to get the most out of this device.

Overview of the Kill-A-Watt unit

The Kill-A-Watt unit is compatible with any electrical outlet and is used to assess both the efficiency and the actual consumption of standard home appliances. The LCD display measures consumption by the kilowatt-hour (just like your local utility company). This appliance can be used to estimate the cost of running each appliance for a day, week, month or year.

Before you get started, please download the “Appliance Efficiency Tracker” from GEFA or download a PDF version of the “Appliance Efficiency Tracker EZ” form. This document will help you track your results to find the most energy-consuming appliances and will allow you to modify the results to reflect your actual consumption patterns.

Tips on reading your utility bill

Check your monthly utility bill to learn how much you pay for electricity. Look for the cost per kilowatt hour, rather than the total bill, to determine your rate. If you do not know your monthly rate, then ask your utility provider or use the estimate below.

9.10 cents/kWh ($0.0910/kWh) – Average rate costs in Georgia.

Quick Start Guide

  1. Connect the Kill-A-Watt unit to the electrical outlet and the appliance to the unit.
  2. Press and hold the RESET key on the unit until “rESt” appears.
  3. Press and hold the SET rate key until the “Rate” is displayed and the currently set rate flashes.
  4. Press the UP and DOWN key to set your desired rate. This should be based on the amount per kilowatt hour that your utility company charges; the information can be found on your utility bill or by calling your electric utility provider. For example, if your utility charges 9.10 cents per kWh, set the rate until the unit displays $0.0910.
  5. Press the SET key on the E-Z meter again. “SAVE” will appear briefly in the display.
  6. To display the actual cost of power consumed or projected cost, press the MENU key until “Cost” is displayed in the LCD.
  7. Pressing the UP and DOWN keys will cycle through the cost projection periods. For example, if the display indicates $2.34 and “Month,” the unit is projecting that the attached appliance will cost $2.34 worth of electricity in one month. Small appliances often do not register a cost for “Hour,” so it is advised to look at cost projections over at least a “Day” cycle.
  8. Visit GEFA to download the “Appliance Efficiency Tracker,” or you can download a PDF version of the “Appliance Efficiency Tracker EZ” form. This document will help you track your results to find the most energy-consuming appliances and will allow you to modify the results to reflect your actual consumption patterns.

Source: This information has been modified from the P3 Operating Manual for the P4460 Kill A Watt EZ.

Steps for getting the most out of your Kill A Watt unit

  1. Visit GEFA and download the “Appliance Efficiency Tracker,” or you can download a PDF version of the “Appliance Efficiency Tracker EZ” form.
  2. Be on the look-out for “vampire load,” which refers to the energy consumed by appliances that have been turned off or placed on standby but left plugged into the wall. Do not forget to check your appliances’ consumption when turned off. Many appliances, including computers, cell phone and digital clocks, utilize energy even when on stand-by or turned off. Though the amount of energy per appliance may be small, this energy can account for ten percent of all residential usage.
  3. Identify which appliances use the most energy in the house, which appliances could be turned off when not in use to conserve energy, and which appliances could be replaced with more efficient versions to get a return on investment through lowered utility bills. Use the “Appliance Efficiency Tracker” to record this information.
  4. Identify some steps you can take to save energy. Consider the following: replacing an old appliance with an Energy Star model, switching out the most-used incandescent lights with compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs), and unplugging appliances when not in use.
  5. Share your results on-line.
  6. Join the Governor’s Energy Challenge and pledge to reduce your energy consumption 15 percent.
  7. Encourage your friends, family, neighbors and colleagues to use the Kill-A-Watt unit and to join the Governor’s Energy Challenge.
  8. Take steps to reduce your energy consumption.

Next Steps

  • Want to learn more about how to make your home more energy efficient? Contact your local utility provider to request a free energy audit. An energy audit can identify home improvements that will reduce your energy bill.
  • Did you know the state of Georgia offers income tax credits for installing wind, solar and geothermal technology on your home? The income tax credit can offset up to 35 percent of the cost of equipment and installation. Visit Georgia Clean Energy Property Tax Credit to learn more.
  • Mark your calendars for Georgia’s ENERGY STAR Sales Tax Holiday, which occurs the first weekend of October. A broad range of products up to $1,500 marked with the ENERGY STAR logo are included in this unique incentive. Specifically, the sales tax exemption applies to ENERGY STAR qualified dishwashers, clothes washers, room air conditions, ceiling fans, compact fluorescent light bulbs, refrigerators, doors and windows.
  • Visit the ENERGY STAR Website for more tips on saving energy in your home at .
  • Join the Governor’s Energy Challenge. Pledge to reduce your energy consumption 15 percent, share your ideas and learn from others at www.gefa.org.
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