[mikester]

Some of us find value in knowledge. If I can find a more precise answer to our $150-$200 a month electrical bill - I'll take it.

If I can use that knowledge to make things more efficient for a better on going savings that so much the better.

The reality: Lets say I spend $40 on two light switches with timers for my front bathroom. The one that my boys turn on both lights and the fan every time they enter and leave on. How long will $20-$40 in power conserving switches take to actually save me money on the investment? Probably a year or two. Will I feel better immediately? Tes. I'll put one in my garage too, I leave those lights on all the time.

So, you're right of course that the investment in a tool plus the investment in the efficiency devices themselves take a long time to recoup even if they don't really cost that much. Those aren't what I'm looking for though. I'm looking for the gross polluters in my house. I want to find out which devices are the worst, measure, quantify and decide what to do if anything about it.