Industrialisation (or Industrialization) is the process of social and economic change that transforms a human group from an agrarian society into an industrial one. It is a part of a wider modernisation process, where social change and economic development are closely related with technological innovation, particularly with the development of large-scale energy and metallurgy production. It is the extensive organisation of an economy for the purpose of manufacturing.[2]Industrialisation also introduces a form of philosophical change where people obtain a different attitude towards their perception of nature, and a sociological process of ubiquitous rationalisation.There is considerable energy in and around literature on the factors facilitating industrial modernisation and enterprise development.[3] Key positive factors identified by researchers have ranged from favourable political-legal environments for industry and commerce, through abundant natural resources of various kinds, to plentiful supplies of relatively low-cost, skilled and adaptable labour.One survey[citation needed] of countries in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East and the rest of Asia in the late 20th century found that high levels of structural differentiation, functional specialisation, and autonomy of economic systems from government were likely to contribute greatly to industrial-commercial growth and prosperity. Amongst other things, relatively open trading systems with zero or low duties on imported goods tended to stimulate industrial cost-efficiency and innovation across the board. Free and flexible labour and other markets also helped raise general business-economic performance levels, as did rapid popular learning capabilities.Positive work ethics in populations at large combined with skills in quickly utilising new technologies and scientific discoveries were likely to boost production and income levels and as the latter rose, markets for consumer goods and services of all kinds tended to expand and provide a further stimulus to industrial investment and economic growth. By the end of the century, East Asia was one of the most economically successful regions of the world with free market countries such as Hong Kong being widely seen as models for other, less developed countries around the world to emulate.[4] The first country to industrialise was the United Kingdom during the Industrial Revolution.[5]

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Rising populations, expanding industrialisation, increasing pollution, depletion of the Earth's natural resources and the resultant global warming have all taken a heavy toll on our environment and the planet's ecosystems. Unless we learn to live in an eco-friendly manner, the days ahead are going to be tougher. So, it is necessary for all of us to be aware of the implications and to work towards a sustainable development and pollution-free world by making changes in our lifestyles.On the home front these changes can be as simple as turning off unnecessary lights, using "hand powered" appliances instead of electrical appliances where possible, recycling and re-using water and other materials, switching to "green" cleaning products etc. If enough people make these changes it WILL eventually have a beneficial effect on our health, our local environment and on the planet as a whole.So, our "Green Stuff" forum is the place for you to post any eco-friendly ideas you'd like to share which might help to inspire others to switch to "greener" methods of doing things, including ideas about organic foods and natural or herbal remedies etc.We also have a "Kitchen Witchery" forum where you can share your recipes for special sabbat foods and drinks, or any other yummy snacks etc.Please give your message a title which indicates the subject clearly, to make it easier for others to find what they're looking for.You may access the Eco-Friendly and Healthy Living forums directly by clicking on the "Forums" link in the main menu, or now that you're here, just click on Planet Earth.Ensures safe and eco-friendly recycling of vesselsShip Recycling Industries Association (IndiaAs of Jan. 1, the traditional 100-watt and 150-watt A19 incandescent light bulb is no longer sold in California. A year from now, the energy waster will be out of business nationwide.In 2013, the familiar 75-watt incandescent also will be history. (California will shoo them off of store shelves one year earlier.) And in 2014, Americans will wave good-bye to their belovedalbeit energy-inefficient60- and 40-watt A-shaped incandescents.The resulting switch to more efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or to the brand-new high-efficacy halogens that manufacturers have introduced in response to the light bulb law within the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 will mean considerably steeper pricesin the $2-per-bulb rangeversus the 50-cent incandescent. But other than that, for many builders, the shift will barely register becausefor nowonly the bulbs, and not the fixtures, are required to change.Its not that hard of a change to make for recessed lighting, which is most of the indoor lighting that we build into homes, says Jim Bayless, owner of GreenBuilt Construction in Folsom, Calif.In fact, estimates the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, about a quarter of the light bulbs sold in America are CFLs, and many pros long ago embraced them. Those who havent, advises Larry Weinstein, president of design/build firm DBS-Shared Solutions America in San Diego, should make the switch.Architects and contractors for the most part are hurting right now, he reasons. Those who are wise enough to realize theres a substantial market in energy-efficient new homes are doing very well.Derek Greenauer, program manager for D&R International, a Silver Spring, Md.-based energy-efficiency consulting firm, agrees. If builders can get up to speed on LEDs [light-emitting diodes] and technology and the new choices theyll have for lighting homes, they can kind of ride that green wave to set a particular builder apart from competitors.Bulb BasicsHalogens. Part of the incandescent family, energy-efficient halogen bulbs produce the familiar color and quality of light of the lame-duck 40- to 100-watt incandescent A19 bulb. New to the market, these high-efficacy halogens are energy-efficient enough to comply with the governments new standards for lighting. They cost around $1.50 to $2 per bulb and can last for up to 2,000 hourstwice as long as a traditional incandescent.CFLs. Much improved over the past five years, spiral-shaped compact fluorescent lamps can last up to 10,000 hours and run about $2 to $3 each, depending on burning time. Dimmable CFLs cost more, and most cant dim to quite the same low level as a halogen. Still, theyre up to 75% more energy efficient than incandescents.LEDs. With a life expectancy of 25,000-plus hours, light-emitting diodes are likely to be the light source of the future. Not a bulb at all, LEDs can be integrated into a fixture or even into a glass enclosure designed to look like a traditional bulb and screw into a standard light fixture. But with a per-unit price of $40 or more and with limited beam spread, theyre not expected to find their way into mainstream use for at least five years. They are at least as energy efficient as CFLs. --S.O'M. Builders and homeowners who will grieve the loss of the familiar A-shaped incandescent, says Weinstein, will do so only because they dont know any better.What they might not know is that CFLsthe most likely immediate replacement bulb both for built-in residential lighting and for portable luminaires like table lampslast for around five years and use 75% less energy than traditional incandescents, which burn out after about seven months of normal use. CFLs also cost about four times more.What they almost certainly dont know is the difference between a lumena measure of light output that the government is requiring bulb boxes to display starting in Julyand a watt, the consumers comfortable gauge of how bright a light bulb will burn.An example: The old 60-watt incandescent bulb produces 800 lumens. So a builder or homeowner who wants to replace a 60-watt bulb with a similar but more energy-efficient alternative should choose a CFL, high-efficacy halogen, or LED that produces 800 lumens. That number will be displayed on the packages required new Lighting Facts label (see "Reading the Label," page 2).The big challenge, says Hampton Newsome, an attorney and spokesman for the Federal Trade Commission, is to help people understand that when theyre looking for the light the bulb produces, look at lumens.So its a good thing the phase-out is staggered over three years, says Peter Soares, director of consumer product development for Philips. It will give consumers time to understand the legislation, he says.And it could take some time. There hasnt been much consumer education about light bulbs in a long, long time, notes Terry McGowan, director of engineering for the American Lighting Association[http://www.americanlightingassoc.com/]. The fact is that the consumer likes to make decisions right at the shelf and gets confused with all these labels and lamps. I dont know what theyll do.His prediction: Any time theres change, theres a little bit of craziness. Indeed, some are expecting consumers to make a run for incandescent light bulbs as Jan. 1, 2012, approaches, stockpiling them like milk and bread before a snowstorm.UNDERSTANDING THE RULESWhile the new law effectively phases out the traditional light bulb, it stops short of banning it. Instead, the Department of Energy has set efficiency standards for all light bulbs, and todays standard incandescents cant meet those levels. New, high-efficacy halogen bulbsa form of incandescentcan, however. Theyre not as efficient as CFLs, but they emit the same warm light as their outlawed cousins and are easier to dim than stubborn CFLs, most of which can dim only so much before snuffing out completely.Under the new rules, all light bulbs will burn 25% to 30% less energy than traditional products do today. By 2020, all bulbs will be 70% more efficient.CFLs already are 70% more efficient than traditional incandescents. High-efficacy halogen bulbs are about 30% more efficient, so theyre a viable choice for now, but wont be in 2020 unless manufacturers find a way to upgrade them.Super-efficient, long-lasting LEDs fill the bill, as they are about 90% more efficient than incandescents, but theyre so new and so expensive that few home builders and remodelers are ready to recommend them to their clients. Still, Soares of Philips Lighting believes builders will gravitate to a mixture of energy-efficient halogens, CFLs, and LEDs.

READING THE LABELLike the nutrition label on packaged food, a Federal Trade Commission-mandated new label on light bulbs will tell consumers all about the bulbs they buy.

A Lighting Facts label on the back will repeat the information about brightness and energy cost, and add facts about the bulbs life expectancy; light appearancewhether the light it shines is warm or cool wattage, or the amount of energy the bulb uses; and whether the bulb contains mercury. The simplest solution, he suggests, is to install a traditional fixture and screw an energy-saving bulb into ithalogen, CFLs, or LEDs clustered together within a bulb-shaped lamp. Indeed, traditional fixtures give the homeowner the most flexibility because they accept a variety of screw-base light bulbs. The builders who are still holding onto the basic 16-pack of incandescents will go to halogen, Soares predicts. Builders who are already using CFLs will go to LED. In the end, there will be plenty of solutions on the shelf. And that might spur a change in the way pros light their homes.Home builders tend to put some CFL products in the house already, notes McGowan, so it isnt going to be a dramatic change. But it is something theyll have to pay attention to. They will have to because thats what will be on the shelf.That could be a good thing, suggests lighting designer Glenn Heimiller, a principal of the Cambridge, Mass., firm Lam Partners and chairman of the International Association of Lighting Designers Energy and Sustainability Committee. If they want to install energy-efficient lighting, they shouldnt worry about the loss of the incandescent A lamp, he says. What you will see is a mix of all kinds of different light sources if youre doing a good design.Soares agrees. Cost-conscious home builders and remodelers too often opted for inexpensive incandescents simply because of the price, he says. With those cut-rate relics out of the picture, he predicts, pros might concentrate more on supplying light bulbs that are most appropriate for the fixtures, the room theyre in, and the homeowners lifestyle.

A label on the front will contain information on brightnessor lumen outputand the estimated cost to burn the bulb for one year. LOOKING AHEADStill, builders, manufacturers, lighting designers, and industry observers agree that LEDs are the next big thing in lighting--with or without legislation to force builders and consumers in their direction."We're taking a product line that was a disposable product line and now we're turning it into a more durable good," says Soares, who notes that LEDs can last for 25,000-plus hours--and some predict they'll burn twice that long.When their high price tag shrinks, the high-tech, high-efficient lights are likely to change the way the world lights its buildings.Many residential LEDs today are packaged within a traditional-looking housing with medium screws bases so they can replace traditional incandescent bulbs in standard fixtures. But before long, says McGowan, they won't look anything like light bulbs--because they're not light bulbs. "It will be a fixture that lights up inside, but you won't see any light bulb in it--just chips and surfaces and points of light," he says. "It will look very different."

Printed directly on the bulb will be the lumen output and whether the bulb contains mercury. But the look isn't the real difference the gradual gravitation toward LEDs will make.McGowan predicts that LED lighting will change the way Americans wire their homes. LEDs don't need the high-voltage wiring in today's houses. So low-voltage sockets, wires connectors, and fixtures will take its place.He foresees a time when walls themselves might be electrically conductive so light fixtures won't need wiring at all."I don't know what home builders are going to do until we see these things," McGowan says. "But it's very clear this is going to open up a whole realm of possibilities for putting light where we want it and where we don't have it now."Sharon O'Malley is a freelance writer in College Park, Md. This article appeared in Building Products magazine. Save / Share 1 2 Next >

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Posted by: Garageguy | Time: 10:53 AM Monday, March 21, 2011 CFL's may have Mercury, but LED's emit a blue light that according to a Harvard and other studies may cause Macular Degeneration and sleep disorders. Is our Gov't. really making sure we will be safe! How many lives are we saving with the Lead laws...how much damage will LED's cause? Sometimes common sense should prevail.Report this as offensive Posted by: Anonymous | Time: 5:50 PM Thursday, March 17, 2011 We need to remove these idiots that want to legislate what we can buy/use. I will buy a palat and burn them 24/7 just to protest their stupidity.Report this as offensive Posted by: appledude | Time: 11:37 PM Wednesday, March 16, 2011 I love energy-efficient lighting, and have used florescent for many years almost exclusively in my condo, with a couple of LED's now in the mix - however, a watt is still a watt! I see in new buildings often we are overlighting many areas, and using more wattage than if we just had used old-fashioned porcelain ceiling fixtures with a 100W incandescent bulb! Also, I am against government going so crazy - if I want a particular light bulb to read by - I want to have that right! I still have a few incandescent bulbs in my condo - because it some instances they do the job better! Part of lighting is the human aspect of it - to me, with lighting you want zones, ways you can vary the lighting to make it different day-to-day, and for different tasks. This is very important, even in small spaces. Report this as offensive Posted by: Anonymous | Time: 10:07 PM Wednesday, March 16, 2011 CFLs also worsen health problems of persons with photosensitive neurological and immunological disabilities such as autism spectrum disorders, traumatic brain injuries, migraines, lupus and others according to studies, and reports from doctors, hospitals, medical charities, patients and their families. This mandate would violate the Americans with Disabilities Act, and lead to further isolation if the CFL (flicker rate and UVA/UVB and radiation are the problem areas) is mandated. The LED bulb is still not the natural spectrum of light, such as that in sunlight or the incandescent, and too bright for many who are glare sensitive. CFLs also pose a mercury hazard. The last thing we need is more neurologically injured people due to heavy metal poisoning.Report this as offensive Posted by: Anonymous | Time: 7:55 PM Wednesday, March 16, 2011 In my own personal experience with CFLs in my home, they do not last much longer than incandescents, although they are more expensive. Let the market prevail. Don't take away people's choice in light bulbs. We give people the choice to end a pre-born baby's life, for the love of heaven!Report this as offensive Posted by: Anonymous | Time: 6:33 PM Wednesday, March 16, 2011 Here's the thing: what is the kelvin difference? The color of the light. I say they're forcing technology on the buying public before it's ready. Not all light is the same. The color of the light is very important to people. Have you priced a incandescent flood light and a flood led replacement of equal lumen? One is $85.00 and one is $5.00. Report this as offensive Posted by: Anonymous | Time: 6:27 PM Wednesday, March 16, 2011 I'm a builder and I recommend and use LEDs almost exclusively the CREE brand. I have a problem where the government is subsidizing CFL's when they are toxic if broken or disposed of improperly and are rarely recycled. Not green in my view and I never read or hear about about the toxicity such as in this article not one mention.Report this as offensive Posted by: Anonymous | Time: 4:55 PM Wednesday, March 16, 2011 I think its worth noting that, in certain applications, cold cathode lighting has a place to play in the future of residential lighting as well. Ultra-low mercury when compared to CFLs, and not containing materials that get them labeled as toxic waste like LEDs. Report this as offensive Comment on this ArticlePost your comment below. If you wish, enter a username and password though they are not required. Please read our Content Guidelines before posting. Comment: Enter code: Enter the code shown in the imageUsername: Username is optional Password: Enter a password if you want a username Ads by GoogleLED High Bay ManufactureSpecialty Manufacture, High quality High Efficient, Low Price www.nokeled.comChina LED BulbWorldwide is China LED manufacture Offer the most at the best price. ledchina.bizIndoor general lightingAvnet LED Solutions provide indoor general lighting services www.em.avnetasia.com1 Watt Led LightBuy 1W, 3W & 5W LED at Factory- Direct Price, All Colors Buy Now! www.BestHongKong.come:cue lighting controlDMX lighting software and hardware Easy, Innovative & Flexible www.ecue.comLED Lights SupplierChina lighting factory and exporter Lower price, High QS, CE, GS etc. www.everlightings-led.comIn the backyards of five houses within a 2-mile span in Tarrant County, Texas, small Skystream wind turbines whir quietly atop poles. A prospective client recently approached builder Don Ferrier about making his lakeside house the sixth."The owner came to me as most of my clients do, saying, 'We believe building energy efficient only makes sense,'" says the owner of Ft. Worth-based Ferrier Custom Homes. Ferrier had to build the alternative energy system into the budget but found--as incentives for harnessing wind power whip over the nation in the form of federal tax breaks and state, local, and utility incentives--his client was in for a good deal.Wind turbine dealers have sold almost 100,000 residential units since 1980, and in 2009 the turbine market swelled 15% despite the economic slump, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). The market boom, buoyed by growing interest in alternative energy, is a direct result of federal tax credits worth 30% of wind-harvesting costs.More reliable and durable equipment also has helped. "The technology has really moved forward," says Sterling Condit, a Kansas remodeler and turbine dealer. "For example, one of the turbines I sell is practically maintenance-free." HOW IT WORKSA wind turbine is essentially a generator with fan blades that catch the breeze and spin the rotor over a coil to create an electric current. The most common are horizontal-axis turbines, which look similar to a pinwheel, and eggbeater-like vertical-axis turbines. Also offered are helix models, which resemble DNA. As the industry picks up speed, new options resembling bike wheels and jet engines mark a competitive quest for the best angle to catch the breeze.Many horizontal residential models resemble smaller versions of common industrial-sized versions, with a 3-foot to 10-foot blade span, according to Mike Batten, a turbine dealer for Midwest Energy Solutions.It takes 8-mph winds to kick an average turbine into gear, and about 15 mph for it to generate electricity. Since winds that fast only blow high above ground, for the most effective results a turbine needs to sit on a pole, a house, or a hill, and away from obstacles.U.S. wind maps show the strongest gusts snaking down the middle states, off the coasts, and near mountains. Air in the Southeast is still, so that region may never see a huge turbine trend. Average residential models generate from 1 kW to 10 kW, according to the AWEA. A 10-kW unit could completely power an average home in good wind conditions (and potentially have extra power to sell back to the utility company), Batten says, but there are many factors--including turbine location and wind conditions--so it's difficult to give a broad, concrete estimate. A 2-kW model provides just supplemental power, but is a more manageable size. Turbine dealers evaluate each project to determine the best unit for the home buyer's needs and the wind potential of the site.Most residential systems cost $15,000 to $20,000 installed, say turbine dealers. But the figure is dramatically reduced by federal tax credits, as well as state rebates and tax credits, low-interest loans, and utility incentives.CHALLENGESBefore a homeowner leaps into wind energy, there are a few considerations: "What are your needs? How can we get there? Where's the application going? What's your elevation? Who's your power company?" says Batten. "You can't just go and stick up a wind turbine."In addition, codes in most counties dictate how far from the house you can place a turbine, how high it can be, and the amount of acreage required on the lot. While the smallest systems are relatively quiet, 10-foot-long blades create a whooshing noise, a sound manufacturers attempt to silence.In Kansas, remodeler Condit says some utilities are not eager to embrace wind technology because of the industry's past. "I've actually had a couple of customers discouraged from installing a wind turbine... [Utilities] just say they don't work, they are not reliable, which is not true, but that was true of the early '80s."But the biggest determining factor is the client, asserts Ferrier. The homeowner has to understand the return on investment and have the resources to pay the up-front costs.While clients willing to work $15,000 into the budget may be scarce, manufacturers believe the winds are changing direction. "We are looking at the wind industry almost the way we looked at the satellite television industry 20 years ago," says Brian Levine, vice president of business development and marketing at WindTronics. "First those satellite dishes were monstrous then they got smaller and now people have multiple units on their homes."Predicts Levine: "I think you are watching the wind industry and the alternative energy industry going mainstream."Evelyn Royer is Assistant Editor for Building Products. This article originally appearedin the Winter 2011 issue of Building Products. Save / Share Related Articles Architecture 2030 Launches Building Product Carbon-Reduction Initiative Proposed Wood-Certification Benchmarks for LEED Fail to Win Enough Support Green Products From the 2011 International Builders' Show 2011 Builders' Show Preview BuildingGreen Announces Top 10 Green Products for 2010 All Related Articles Related Topics Green Products Wind PowerComments (5 Total)

Posted by: Anonymous | Time: 12:56 PM Saturday, March 05, 2011 One of the problems with wind is that when it is connected to the grid it is not predictable. It can cause spikes and brownouts because the generating plants can't react quickly enough to changes in the wind. Personally I like the idea of stand alone wind power for residential use, but I resent having to depend on fellow taxpayers to help me pay for it. Back in the 1920's, farmers living off the grid relied on 6 volt wind mills that generated enough electricity to power a radio. When the Gov't began the rural electrification projects, the natural development and improvements that would have occured ceased because there was no longer a significant market.Report this as offensive Posted by: Anonymous | Time: 11:04 AM Thursday, March 03, 2011 Wind also has the virtue of generating power at night/cloudy days, a mix of wind and solar might smooth out the flow. Companies are coming up with battery systems to store renewable power. tohttp://goo.gl/HtChqReport this as offensive Posted by: Love Green | Time: 10:10 AM Thursday, March 03, 2011 In response to Anonymous saying it is not cost effective, I think that greatly depends on where you live. Using the costs in the article and my current utility bills, I would have a 5 year payback (No rebate - as requested). I also live on a very consistently windy flat plain. Wind is not the answer for everyone, but it is a good answer for some of us - just as solar is not very viable in my area, but very cost effective elsewhere.Report this as offensive Posted by: Anonymous | Time: 9:00 AM Thursday, March 03, 2011 Your article shows wind generators are not cost effective. Please do not consider the tax rebates as I am paying those credits. I notice there were no calculations of pay back period.Report this as offensive Posted by: Anonymous | Time: 4:33 PM Wednesday, March 02, 2011 Our county recently voted down allowing wind turbines within Lake County,IL. Quote:"one little wind farm won't solve the energy crisis ...". More, Not In My Back Yard mentality like that, and we are along way off from even being on the same page as a country. I personally don't like the sentiment, but it shows how much of these "green" & alternative ideas are just lip service to, many people out there. Even though similar government agencies are pushing towards net zero energy in 2030. Maybe if/&/or when the prices for wind turbines come down. Way down.Report this as offensive Comment on this ArticlePost your comment below. If you wish, enter a username and password though they are not required. Please read our Content Guidelines before posting. Comment: Enter code: Enter the code shown in the imageUsername: Username is optional Password: Enter a password if you want a username Ads by GoogleSiemens answers:Efficient energy supply - Answers for the environment. www.siemens.com/answersWind TurbineFind new products & quality suppliers from China, Taiwan & HK GlobalSources.comWind Turbine ControlMain control and pitch systems for wind turbines. www.deifwindpower.comZero Run Cost Eco ExhaustPremium Roof Turbo Ventilators Imported. Removes hot & stale air www.freeexhaust.comSmall Wind TurbinesWind energy where there is none. Complete Kestrel Wind Systems www.kestrelwind.co.za

SEnergy-efficient and high-performance building have dominated the construction industry for the last few years, but one piece of the equation rarely mentioned is perhaps the most important: human behavior.For example, if home buyers select the most energy-efficient HVAC system, choose compact fluorescent lighting, and buy the highest-rated water heater, they still will need to use these products correctly in order to gain the maximum benefit. Unfortunately, many consumers are not mindful of the fact that how and when they use the products affects the desired results.According to a 2010 Energy Pulse survey conducted by the Shelton Group in Knoxville, Tenn., more Americans are buying energy-efficient appliances, installing insulation, replacing their incandescent bulbs with CFLs, and adjusting their thermostats. Suzanne Shelton, president and CEO of the company, says, however, Most Americansdespite their efforts to conserve energy and control costsare seeing their energy bills rise.Shelton says rising electricity rates and more plug-in electronic devices are partly responsible, but behavior is also a culprit: Consumers can get lulled into thinking that because they installed CFLs, they can leave their lights on all the time, or because they bought a high-efficiency water heater, they can indulge themselves with longer, hotter showers, the groups survey concluded.The bottom line is that all the features in the world will not save energy unless humans change their behavior, as well. So, new energy-monitoring devices promise to help accomplish that.An energy dashboard is a device that lets homeowners know how much power they are using in real time. The idea is that if people know exactly how much energy they are consuming and when, they may change old habits and reduce consumption.The Advanced Metering Initiative and Residential Feedback Program: A Meta-Review for Household Electricity-Saving Opportunities, a 2010 report by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) in Washington, says such feedback initiatives are opening the door to potential energy savings that, on average, have reduced individual household electricity consumption 4 percent to 12 percent across our multi-continent sample. Feedback is proving a critical first step in engaging and empowering consumers to thoughtfully manage their energy resources.Devices such as the touchscreen-based energy dashboard from Orem, Utahbased Vantage quantifies specific energy usage and offers strategies for direct savings. Andrew Wale, vice president of marketing, says, Were now offering homeowners the ability to see real-time energy usage and the effect of strategies that manage energy usage in accordance with their own lifestyle requirements.Still, in its analysis of feedback studies, ACEEE concludes that significant savings from energy-monitoring devices are possible, but the group says it depends on the type and how well it is implemented. Past studies suggest that daily/weekly feedback and real time plus feedback tend to generate the highest savings per household, the report says. Median energy savings, across all countries and decades, for studies employing these two approaches were both above 10 percent.But simply installing a gadget is unlikely to maximize energy savings. Instead, the group says the best systems include both the device and specific guidance on how to decrease usage.

Monitor WizardTED 5000-C is a simple and accurate home energy monitor that allows homeowners to see electricity usage in real time. The system has a sensitivity of 1 watt so its very accurate, and its easy to install and use. It comes with all the components necessary to monitor total energy usage. Energy Inc. 800-959-5833. www.theenergydetective.com.

Cost ControlThe PowerCost Monitor allows home buyers to save up to $250 a year on their electric bills. Easy to use and install, the product shows exactly where energy is being consumed in either kilowatts or dollars per hour. A predictive feature provides the user with an estimate of the 30-day energy consumption totals. Blue Line Innovations. 866-607-2583. www.bluelineinnovations.com.

Brillion IdeaPart of the Brillion suite of home energy solutions, the energy display provides a continuous audit of household energy consumption in kilowatt hours and in estimated dollars spent. The device communicates with a utilitys smart meter on the house to provide consumers with continuous energy information. GE Appliances & Lighting. 800-626-2005. www.ge.com.

Management TeamPart of the companys Energy Management Solution, this touchscreen energy dashboard quantifies specific energy usage and enables custom strategies to produce direct savings. It can be programmed with local power costs, so homeowners can instantly view the exact amount of money they are saving. Vantage. 800-555-9891. www.vantagecontrols.com.

Smart IdeaThe Smart Energy Manager allows home buyers to monitor and assess energy usage and analyze historical usage to reveal trends. Users may disconnect loads based on these trends and program HVAC temperature settings based on preferences. The 5-inch touchscreen supports three wireless protocols. Eaton Corp. 877-386-2273. www.eaton.com.