A device that could help area residents save money on electricity bills is now available at the Innisfail library.
Along with books, videos and other items traditionally available to borrow, members can also now borrow a power monitor.
The small device measures and displays the electrical usage of household appliances as well as the cost of running the appliance.
FortisAlberta donated 60 power monitors to the Parkland Regional Library for circulation through its member libraries including the Innisfail Public Library.
"FortisAlberta wants to help our customers cut down on their electricity costs," says Joelle Lamontagne, FortisAlberta energy efficiency program manager. "By making power monitors available to customers through their local libraries, they can use them for free to identify the appliances that are using the most electricity and costing them the most money."
Innisfail library has one power monitor available to be borrowed for a period of one week at a time, said librarian Colleen Hayden.
"There's been a lot of interest," she said, adding the device has been booked out since the library has been in receipt of it.
While there haven't been many comments made when it is brought back, Hayden said she thought the device was useful.
"It does help you monitor and keep track and let you know where you can cut down, like if you leave your computer running all night," she said.
FortisAlberta spokesperson Kevin Haslbeck said libraries were chosen as the distribution sites because a large number of people are able to take advantage of a limited supply of power monitors through the borrowing system.
The information gleaned from the monitors could help electricity customers make better informed decisions on how to cut costs, he said.
"Another bonus is that by being able to check out the monitors for free from the libraries, customers don't have to spend money to find out how they can save money," he said.
To date, FortisAlberta has donated power monitors to more than 140 community libraries throughout Alberta.
"The first power monitors have now been in circulation for a few months," said Lamontagne. "According to the librarians, the public is excited about the availability of these devices and demand has been high."
