Company launches widget to help consumers save electricity

An electrical and specialty systems contractor has launched an electrical savings widget to show consumers how a lighting retrofit can help them save energy. Faith Technologies launched the service in April to mark Earth Day (April 22) and is hosting the widget on its own website. The widget can also be used via the iPad.

According to Faith Technologies, the calculator determines lighting energy savings in manufacturing, warehouse and office environments. Commercial buildings use up to 70 percent of the total electricity consumption in the United States.

To calculate savings, users key in their type of existing lighting fixtures, the quantity, the number of hours per day and the number of days per week the lights are running. The calculator then recommends replacement lighting fixtures to calculate their savings per year. It will reveal how many watts the existing fixtures expend versus the recommended fixtures, and the annual savings both in kW/hours and dollars.

iPad users will also be able to interact with the widget. â€œAs mobile technology evolves and more people are looking to stay connected while on the go, Faith Technologies felt it was important that the widget be viewed across multiple platforms,â€ said Tom Clark, Director of Marketing. The company says that electrical retrofitting projects can generate annual savings of between 25 and 40 per cent in some cases. Besides, government incentives further offset costs of the new fixtures.

To access the widget, please go here.

For other tips on how to reduce your energy consumption, check out Energy Refuge’s advice page on how to improve the energy efficiency of your home.