I think we could probably borrow SEDAC's--you can contact Andy Robinson at the Smart Energy Design Assistance Center("Robinson, Andrew Ansel" <aar@illinois.edu>). Last year, we worked out a memorandum of understanding to use a blower door from SEDAC's affiliate, the Building Research Council, so this shouldn't be a problem. You can mention that. I can also contact him, as I used to work there.  - Amy Allen

On Tue, Nov 8, 2011 at 3:28 PM, Thomas Ferrarell <tjferrarell@gmail.com> wrote:

I've been unable to get watt meters through cheap means. SECS is still unsure where theirs are, and the library has only 2 rentable and they have both been checked out till the 19th. I want to ask if you think this is still a valuable task to include, that is: measuring the energy usage of items like computers, mini-fridges, personal microwaves/toasters/coffee makers/water heaters, and using the data to suggest a change in behavior. If so, would you be opposed to buying 6 watt meters for teams to use?

They seem to be around $25 per meter 

(http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=watt+meters&gs_upl=60l3317l0l3554l22l15l3l0l0l0l341l2953l0.8.3.3l17l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=1204&bih=684&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=5525303247386121198&sa=X&ei=C5m5TreNJuag2gWSwfCjBw&ved=0CI8BEPMCMAM#ps-sellers)

and I could pick them up at radio shack. They may or be helpful in the future if this project continues.

What do you think? Or do you know of other means to obtain meters more cheaply?

-Tom