JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In this economy, some people try to save money by getting a home energy audit.
Usually that means residents pay a company to calculate how much each appliance in their home costs to run, and residents can change their consumption habits accordingly.
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Now, thanks to JEA, residents can perform their own home energy audit for free using a backpack kit. The backpacks can be checked out from any Duval County public library for three weeks.
"Depending on what your bill is, you can cut it in half or maybe even more," said David Reed, of JEA.
The backpack comes with a do-it-yourself guide and all the equipment needed. For instance, an infrared thermometer can detect leaks in insulation.
"Probably the most favorite is the kilowatt meter," Reed said
The meter tracks how much energy an appliance consumes and how much residents pay for it.
"We do try to save money," Ross Weeks, who's using the at-home energy audit. "I'm retired. So is she. And we have to keep constraints on our money."
Weeks said he and wife make are making a conscious effort to cut their energy costs.
"I've got LED lights everywhere in the house, except for her light," he said.
Weeks starts his audit by using the kilowatt meter to compare the cost of his LED lamp versus the regular one.
"It's really about the same, isn't it?" he said.
Turns out both lamps use the same amount of energy and cost about a penny per day to stay lit.
Weeks then checked out the computer in his office.
"We don't use it that often," he said. "I may come in here, check Facebook or email and maybe play a game or so."
Just by being plugged in, his computer costs him 30 cents per day, which comes to about $9 a month. In fact, he figures that he spends a lot of money each month on appliances that are running even when they aren't being used.
"You're talking, right off the bat, I'm saving $60 or more a month just by turning things off," Weeks said. "There's no effort on my part except if you're not using it, turn it off."