Optical sensor

Rather than use a smart meter to get regular home energy data, this system uses an optical sensor which reads the data from a regular meter. Using a radio frequency, it sends the data to the home display or Wi-Fi gateway.

Installation for the whole system, which costs $249, is a little tricky, particularly the part where you need to attach the sensor to the meter glass. But it doesn't require an electrician to install as other whole-house monitoring products do. Note the sensor does not work with net meters which spin backward when home solar panels produce energy.

July 27, 2010 6:00 AM PDT

Photo by: Martin LaMonica/CNET

| Caption by: Martin LaMonica