the single largest electricity drain in many American homes

[Contrary Housewife]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/26/us/26cable.html

"One high-definition DVR and one high-definition cable box use an average of 446 kilowatt hours a year, about 10 percent more than a 21-cubic-foot energy-efficient refrigerator, a recent study found. "

[FrugalKate]

I have Dish. If it's the same for that, then I'm putting it on a power strip and shutting the whole thing down when not in use. I can wait the 45 seconds or so for it to power back up again.

[frugalfranny]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/26/us/26cable.html

"One high-definition DVR and one high-definition cable box use an average of 446 kilowatt hours a year, about 10 percent more than a 21-cubic-foot energy-efficient refrigerator, a recent study found. "

I just read that on the consumer affairs email that I subscribe too.

Very interesting............don't have cable but have a converter box....wonder about those.

Here is their article.............

Cable Boxes Consume 'Startling' Amount Of Electricity

[Debbie-cat]

Wow amazing. I am glad everything is on powerstrips and get shut off every time we are not using them.

[Palooka]

Interesting, thanks for sharing.

[rebecca]

When I got rid of my cable my next electric bill was down $20.

[Lora88]

Im sure the article is accurate however the biggest drain on Elelctricity has got to be air conditioning super expensive to run my bill averages 300.00 a month in summer

[mndtrp]

I'm guessing they are defining "drain" as something that is consuming electricity while not actively being used. I suppose you could argue the point that recording shows to be watched later is "actively using", but I see a difference between that and cooling a house. A/C units are expensive, that's for sure.

[moasmom]

I saw that article, too, and it made me glad I don't have any of those devices. I was very surprised to hear that they use more energy than a fridge.

This thread reminds me of recent discussions about borrowing Kill-o-Watt devices from public libraries and using them to check things around the home. I need to see if I can find one for loan...

And yeah, I know that our a/c is our most expensive appliance to run. But man, life sucks without it!

Kara

[GirlBoyGirl]

Yikes! I noticed both devices were high-def so I wonder if it has to do with that aspect of it, since it didn't just mention cable or converter boxes but specifically said high-def.