Sense is a mobile app that you use from your phone to measure and manage your home energy use in real time. Sense collects your home’s electrical usage data from your utility, working either with a Sense-enabled smart meter installed by your utility or with a monitoring device installed in your electrical panel.
Now, in addition to receiving a bill at the end of each month, Sense gives you insight into how and when your appliances and devices use electricity and how much their use costs you. The Sense app works to differentiate the unique signature of individual devices within the electrical current in your home. Sense then sorts this information into a wide range of reports that help you track how your household uses electricity. Armed with this knowledge, you can make smart choices and set goals, in the app, to reduce costs and save energy.
So how exactly does Sense help you do this? Let's unpack the benefits.
1. Track Energy By Time and Rate
Within minutes of setup, Sense provides data on your home’s electricity consumption. As information accumulates, Sense reports allow you to consider and compare usage over a wide range from hourly, daily, or weekly to monthly, seasonally, or annually. If your electricity provider has instituted Time of Use (TOU) rate variations, you can simply tell the app what rate variations are in place and Sense will help you track those as well.
2. Identify Energy Hogs
Many homes have appliances that consume more energy than necessary. Old, inefficient devices can really be a drag on your bill. Sense uses machine learning algorithms to identify individual devices in your home and lets you see exactly how much they’re costing you. Wondering how much you would save if you swapped out your old fridge for a new, more efficient one? Sense helps make that math easy by showing you exactly how much your current fridge is using, and how much it’s costing you. Sense can spotlight these energy hogs, allowing you to replace or repair inefficient appliances. This proactive approach can lead to significant savings over time. (For more information, see Track down your energy hogs)
3. Get a Handle On Your Vampire Load
‘Always On’ devices are those that stay on constantly, even when you may think they’re off. Our research shows that consumer electronics are generally pretty efficient – if you have just a few. The problem is that they use some energy all the time, and the more you have, the more it adds up. In fact, Always On power accounts for 23% of the average electric bill, which makes it an opportunity for big savings. Sense shows you how much your Always On is and lets you track it over time, so you can see the progress as you turn off idle printers, forgotten lights, and devices sitting on ‘standby’ that don’t really need to be.
4. Set and Achieve Energy Goals
With the detailed insights provided by Sense, you can set realistic energy-saving goals and track your progress in the app. Whether it’s reducing overall consumption by 10% or cutting back during peak hours, having clear targets can motivate change and track progress. Seeing the impact of your energy habits in real-time can encourage positive behavioral changes. Simple actions like turning off lights when leaving a room or unplugging unused electronics become more meaningful when you see immediate savings. (See How do I create a goal?)
5. Detect Faulty Appliances
Sometimes, an unusually high energy spike indicates a faulty appliance. A device that isn’t doing what it’s supposed to can lead to big costs down the line. Luckily, Sense provides you with the data you need to spot something gone wrong. See your well pump turning on frequently, even without anyone home? That could mean that something’s leaking. You can also take a look at your weekly and monthly trends to notice if a major appliance like your fridge or AC starts using more energy over time, possibly indicating a costly problem. Sense can help detect such anomalies early, preventing potential safety hazards and costly repairs. (See How do I use the meter feature?)
Sense empowers you with knowledge. Soon after setup, set aside a half hour to take a tour with the Sense app in hand and turn things on and off to identify some of the biggest energy users. The key is to know how much electricity each device in your home is really using. Then decide if you can use the device less frequently, at particular times of the day, or whether to turn it off or replace it with a more efficient model. By tracking usage, identifying inefficiencies, and encouraging mindful consumption, you can realize significant financial savings and contribute to a greener environment. If you're looking to cut costs and reduce your carbon footprint, working with Sense is a wise decision.