Have an Energy Monitor in your Home.

10.20.00am GMT Tue 2nd Feb 2010

Wiltshire residents can get help to cut electricity costs by monitoring how much energy they use.

Wiltshire Council (WC) is launching a pilot scheme to make home energy monitors available free of charge .

From February 8, home energy monitors will be available to borrow from Trowbridge, Warminster or Bradford on Avon libraries.

The energy monitors are easy to use and show when energy usage goes up or down in people's homes. They instantly show the cost of switching on a light, turning on the TV or boiling a kettle.

The scheme aims to help people save energy by taking simple measures to make energy savings like replacing old light bulbs with energy efficient ones or not leaving appliances on standby.

People may be able to save hundreds of pounds by making simple changes. A member of the council's climate change team found they could save around £200 a year by switching off a heated towel rail.

The home energy monitors, provided by Southern Electric are available on a three week loan for members of the library service. Residents who are not already a member can go to www.wiltshire.gov.uk/joiningthelibrary.

The scheme will be launched at Bradford on Avon library at noon on Monday February 8. Richard Craft, chairman of Climate Friendly Bradford on Avon will be attending the launch.

There will be an opportunity to sign the Bradford on Avon 2050 Declaration, which aims to make the area carbon neutral by 2050. The group's energy saving expert will also be on hand to answer any questions.

Chairman of the climate change board, Toby Sturgis, who has had a similar monitor in his home for the last year, said: "I have been amazed at the variations in the energy usage of different appliances. This is a great opportunity for people to find out how they could save money and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by using the free monitor and making simple changes".