Track Energy Use with These Devices

If you want to cut your utility bills or live more sustainably, the first step is knowing where your energy goes. Smart tech makes it easier than ever to track consumption in real time, identify wasteful habits, and take action that actually makes a difference. These devices help you become more aware of your usage—and more in control.

Why Energy Monitoring Is Worth It

Most people don’t realize how much energy their home uses until the bill arrives. Smart monitoring devices give you live data, trend analysis, and sometimes even appliance-level insights. This visibility can lead to savings of 5–15% or more, simply by helping you catch and correct waste.

Whether you’re just starting your efficiency journey or fine-tuning a smart home setup, these tools give you the info you need to make better decisions, one kilowatt at a time.

Smart Tools to Track Your Home’s Power Use

These six categories of devices give you different levels of energy insight—choose one or combine them for deeper savings.

1. Whole-Home Energy Monitors

Whole-home monitors like Sense or Emporia connect to your electrical panel to track total consumption in real time.

Why these are ideal for big-picture energy management:

• Tracks overall household usage in real time
• Some models detect appliances automatically
• Helps spot spikes, surges, or unusual patterns
• Can help validate energy-efficiency upgrades
• Often includes detailed mobile app dashboards

2. Smart Plugs with Energy Tracking

Smart plugs with built-in monitors let you measure how much power individual devices use.

Benefits of plug-level monitoring include:

• Monitors specific devices like heaters or TVs
• Useful for high-draw appliances and phantom load
• Easy to install and remove as needed
• Lets you compare day-to-day usage
• Available for under $30 in many cases

3. Smart Power Strips

Advanced smart power strips track power draw across multiple outlets, great for entertainment centers or office setups.

Reasons to consider this format:

• Ideal for grouped devices like office or AV setups
• Lets you track total draw from shared circuits
• Often includes surge protection
• Some models allow remote shutdown by outlet
• Great for identifying idle draw from accessories

4. Wi-Fi Connected Energy Monitors

Standalone Wi-Fi energy monitors plug into outlets and offer app-based reporting, often with historical trends.

What makes them effective:

• Plug-and-play simplicity for any outlet
• Displays real-time and cumulative usage
• Often tracks cost as well as energy (kWh)
• Connects to phone for charts and alerts
• Best for renters or flexible setups

5. Smart Meters from Utility Providers

Utility smart meters give you access to live or delayed usage data—often available online if supported in your area.

Why you shouldn’t overlook this free tool:

• Free access through your power company if supported
• Shows daily or hourly usage trends
• Can be used to compare months or seasons
• Helpful for budgeting and forecasting
• Sometimes integrates with smart home dashboards

6. Energy Monitoring Dashboards & Apps

Apps like Home Assistant, Emporia, or Sense help aggregate data from multiple sources for easier analysis.

Why dashboards complete the picture:

• Combines data from smart plugs, strips, and panels
• Offers long-term insight and goal tracking
• Visual graphs make trends easier to spot
• Some dashboards suggest actions or alerts
• Useful for managing energy as a household

Why This Matters

When you can see what your devices are doing, you’re more likely to make energy-conscious choices. Monitoring doesn’t just cut waste—it helps you form better habits and see which upgrades are actually worth it.

Tracking your energy use is the foundation of smart savings. It brings transparency, motivation, and confidence to every decision about how your home runs.

Tips for Beginners

You don’t need a whole-home setup to start tracking. Begin with a single plug or app and expand from there.

Here’s how to start simple and smart:

• Try a smart plug to monitor one high-use appliance
• Check if your utility provider offers a free dashboard
• Compare daily usage to find out what’s running overnight
• Use alerts to catch unexpected energy spikes
• Set monthly targets to build awareness and savings

Further Advice for Better Energy Tracking

Energy monitoring is most useful when paired with action. Once you have data, take steps to reduce what you don’t need.

Here are smart strategies to go deeper:

• Review reports weekly or monthly to see trends
• Tag high-use devices in your dashboard
• Use automation to power down idle items
• Share data with family to encourage accountability

Takeaway

Tracking your energy use is one of the smartest things you can do in your home. With the right devices and apps, you’ll uncover hidden waste, optimize your routines, and make decisions that lead to real savings—both for your budget and for the planet.