Peterborough residents can now borrow an energy monitor from any library in the city thanks to a new scheme introduced as part of the 'Your footprint counts' campaign by Peterborough City Council.

The easy-to-use monitors are simple to install and require no expertise or prior knowledge. A unit is attached to the household electricity meter while a hand-held portable display provides instant information on power use, energy cost and estimated carbon dioxide emissions.

Each kit contains an energy monitor, instructions for installation and use, an energy efficiency guide to explain how residents can change their behaviour to achieve cost savings and an energy monitoring sheet to monitor progress. Residents can also use the monitors to reveal how successful they are in cutting energy use by retrieving earlier measurements and displaying figures for average usage.

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City council Climate Change Officer Jenna Hiley said: "Most consumers struggle to understand the impact various electrical appliances have on their electricity bills. These monitors will help people implement energy saving measures and manage their energy consumption more efficiently resulting in reduced energy costs.

"Research shows that the personal 'carbon footprint' of each person in Peterborough amounts to 7.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. We are striving to reduce the total CO2 emissions by 11% over three years and these monitors will enable residents to understand energy usage and empower them to make energy reductions.

"The meters will allow people to see how switching on a specific electrical appliance such as boiling a kettle or using a tumble-dryer has an effect on their electricity consumption. Users can expect to make savings of up to 20% on their power bills because the whole family will see in a fun and educational way how much money can be saved by reducing usage."

(CD/JM)