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Family saves cash thanks to meter
A family has saved hundreds of pounds from its electricity bill after using a smart meter that detailed energy usage as it happened.
The George family of Kettering shaved 245 off its yearly electricity bill by taking part in energy firm E.ON's year-long smart meter trial, which uses the latest technology to monitor and cut down on their power use.
Dad Mike George, 50, a footwear technologist, said: "The Smart meter has helped us realise just how wasteful we were being with our energy. We still do all the things we did before but we just make a conscious effort to turn things off when we've finished with them."
The Georges, who joined the trial in November 2008, reduced their energy consumption by 22 per cent over the year after installing cavity wall insulation and double glazing and making changes to their behaviour.
The trial, a joint venture between E.ON and Kettering Council, put dual fuel smart meters and monitors in nearly 500 homes across the region, providing owners with up-to-the minute information on energy consumption, carbon emissions and energy costs.
The aim was to see if households, if provided with 'live' figures, could see the energy they were using and take steps to cut down.
Mr George said: "The kids have been really involved too. In fact our daughter Hannah has even started turning lights off at school if she sees an unoccupied classroom."
Almost 80 per cent of homes taking part in the trial saw a reduction in energy use over the year.
The average fall was around nine per cent, equivalent to a 109 saving.
Kettering Council gave 100 to families reducing their energy consumption by 10 per cent or more and 50 to those who reduced consumption by between five per cent and 10 per cent.
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Weather for Kettering
Sunday 27 May 2012
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Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 25 C
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