Minnesota library to start lending energy meters

Patrons will be able to check out portable energy meters from Hennepin County Library.

Users plug appliances into a meter and plug the meter into a standard outlet. The machine will tell them how many kilowatt-hours of electricity each appliance uses.

Leah Hiniker is Hennepin County's energy manager. She says it's fun to get a better idea of how much electricity you use. She says it'll also help people cut energy costs by identifying electricity hogs.

Forty-nine of the library's 50 meters have already been reserved. They can be checked out for three weeks and can't be renewed.