Energy Insider: Check Meters on KMOT-TV North Dakota's NBC News Leader

Energy Insider: Check Meters | Video

11/20/2009

With the push of a few buttons, Tawnja Boyce can make food in minutes.

And thanks to this energy check meter she can find out just how much electricity her microwave uses.

"It`s really easy to use," Boyce said.

Starting Friday you can get ahold of one of these meters, too.

And at no cost, thanks to a partnership between Xcel Energy and the Minot Public Library.

"We`re hoping that consumers are concerned about saving energy," said Kathy Aas, Xcel`s community relations director.

Through the first program of it`s kind in North Dakota, anyone with a library card can check out one of six energy meters for two weeks, just like any other book.

You can even reserve one on the library`s Web site with the simple click of a mouse.

"We`re in the business of providing information to people," Library Director Jerry Kaup said. "So what better way to help people find out more information about how they`re consuming energy."

Next you take it home and plug it in to any standard 120-volt appliance.

From televisions to computers and space heaters the meter will let you know how much energy you use and how much it`s costing you.

"I was surprised at how much the small electrical heater was using," Boyce said. "If I would have that running for a long period of time, it would really add up on my bill."

Xcel officials hope that seeing the costs will curb usage.

To help both the environment and the utility`s bottom line.

"If you can prevent building power plants, which are very costly. This is a way to slow that process down," Aas said.

And using less electricity not only means going green.

You could be saving green as well.

If you would like to reserve a kit, log on to www.minotlibrary.com

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