Efficiency Maine Relaunches Statewide Education Campaign to Help Mainers Monitor, Measure, and Manage Electricity Consumption

Augusta, Maine – August 26, 2021 – Efficiency Maine today announced it has relaunched its education campaign that supplies electricity monitor kits to libraries interested in loaning them to their patrons. Nearly 60 of Maine’s libraries from Kittery to Fort Kent, serving more than 316,000 people, have requested the free updated kits or educational materials as part of a statewide education campaign designed to encourage consumers to monitor, measure, and manage their electricity consumption. The remaining 213 libraries in the state that received kits when the program was introduced in 2008 will continue to loan out the monitors and materials they already have.

The objective of this campaign is to help Mainers use energy more efficiently by arming them with information and other tools that can show them how much they actually consume on a monthly and yearly basis.

“Partnering with local libraries is a simple way to get electricity monitors into the hands of energy consumers,” said Michael Stoddard, executive director of the Efficiency Maine Trust. ”Raising awareness is the first step to changing energy consumption habits and these kits make that an easy, fun activity that can be a learning experience for everyone.”
Each kit includes an electricity monitor, a booklet that features home energy efficiency tips, instructions on how to use the electricity monitor, a poster for libraries to display that publicizes the availability of the kits, and educational activity worksheets for families and children.

The monitors are easy to use. Simply plug a monitor into an electrical outlet, plug an appliance into the monitor, turn it on, and the monitor will provide a read-out of electricity usage. Follow the instructions provided in the kit to calculate how much the appliance is costing in power usage each month.

The children’s worksheet encourages them to work with an adult to help their households fight “phantom load,” which is the electricity many devices draw even when they are turned off. This power draw is called “phantom load” because it is invisible to most energy consumers. A checklist on the worksheet walks children through assessing the power draw on devices, such as televisions, cable boxes, DVD players, phone chargers, lamps, computers and microwaves, and leaves spaces for them to add more devices. Once the monitor provides a read-out of electricity usage, the worksheet provides a formula that helps them calculate the electricity usage and estimated cost of the phantom load.

Patrons can check out a monitor free of charge from participating Maine libraries. If there is no library in town, consumers can visit the Maine State Library’s website to find out how they can request materials via postal mail.

More information about the Electricity Monitor Loaner Program can be found at https://www.efficiencymaine.com/at-home/electricity-monitor-loaners/.

About Efficiency Maine Trust

Efficiency Maine Trust is the independent administrator for programs to improve the efficiency of energy use and reduce greenhouse gases in Maine. The Trust does this primarily by delivering financial incentives on the purchase of high-efficiency equipment or changes to operations that help customers save electricity, natural gas, and other fuels throughout the Maine economy. The Trust is a quasi-state agency governed by a Board of Trustees with oversight from the Maine Public Utilities Commission. Visit www.efficiencymaine.com for more information.

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Contact:
Kate Rankin, Senior Communications Manager
Efficiency Maine Trust
207-512-5905
Kate.rankin@efficiencymaine.com