Save Electricity!

**Jaded** · 06-08-2007, 06:55 PM

Don't know where I got this, but I read or heard somewhere that you should plug all your appliances that "glow" when they're turned off into a strip, and turn off the strip when you aren't using them. Can't remember how much it said you would save either, but it was a lot of electricity these things use! I'm definitely going to do that, all but my Directv box, because it takes too long to reboot.

I'm thinking of cancelling the Directv anyway and just going with Netflix for $15 a month. I'd get things from the library, but I always forget to take them back, and it costs $3 a day when they're late.

I found this online about the energy drainers:

http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/r.../09_energ.html

**Mom23boys** · 06-08-2007, 08:06 PM

Thank you for the reminder! I go around and unplug items all the time that aren't being used. I really do think it saves.

**baxjul** · 06-08-2007, 08:51 PM

I do this also, it really helps alot!

**geckoace** · 06-08-2007, 09:38 PM

i plug things with "black box" power thingy into power strips and then i try to remember to turn them off. so i have a strip for the router and dsl, a strip for cells and ipod a strip for tv and dvd and a strip for computer realted stuff.

i need to do the microwave but i keep forgetting

**bumplett** · 06-08-2007, 09:57 PM

I unplug things as well, all but the alarm clocks

I'm not the greatest at remembering to return items on time either, so now I write the due date on my calendar - and I make myself return them the day before they are due.

I don't have cable, netflix, etc... all of our movies are borrowed from family or the library.

**rebecca** · 06-09-2007, 06:49 AM

I use powerstrips on most of my appliances, tv, and dvd players. Starting in fall our wonderful city is raising our electric bill anywhere from $20 to $40. Said we are lagging behind other cities in the country. Well, excuse me that was there excuse two years ago to raise our electric rates. Before you know it we will be the highest in the United States before you know it!!!!!!

**acidcookie** · 06-09-2007, 12:28 PM

Unplugging your stuff when not in use is a great idea. I would caution, however, against turning off a power strip with electronics plugged into it, if that's what you meant. The power strip protects these electronics against electric surges that could fry them. You could unplug the strip when not in use, but I wouldn't risk leaving it plugged in but turned off.

**kaykwilts** · 06-09-2007, 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by Jaded

Don't know where I got this, but I read or heard somewhere that you should plug all your appliances that "glow" when they're turned off into a strip, and turn off the strip when you aren't using them. Can't remember how much it said you would save either, but it was a lot of electricity these things use! I'm definitely going to do that, all but my Directv box, because it takes too long to reboot.

I'm thinking of cancelling the Directv anyway and just going with Netflix for $15 a month. I'd get things from the library, but I always forget to take them back, and it costs $3 a day when they're late.

I found this online about the energy drainers:

http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/r.../09_energ.html

$3.00 a day? My library only charges 10 cents overdue fines.

**Jaded** · 06-10-2007, 01:31 AM

Originally Posted by acidcookie

Unplugging your stuff when not in use is a great idea. I would caution, however, against turning off a power strip with electronics plugged into it, if that's what you meant. The power strip protects these electronics against electric surges that could fry them. You could unplug the strip when not in use, but I wouldn't risk leaving it plugged in but turned off.

During our rainy season (June through September), we get lots of thunderstorms, so I unplug everything electronic when I leave the house for any length of time, or when a thunderstorm comes up.

No power surge protector in the world can protect you from a direct lightning hit. MY computer got fried when my neighbor's house had a direct hit! It's because it hit her irrigation system controller, and our houses share the same water line, so it went right into my house! It was so strange! I thought it hit my house at first, but no, it was hers. Put out all her lights. She had to go stay with her grandmother until she could get it fixed. Never did fix the irrigation system. She never used it anyway.

Lightning is scary...Florida has more lightning strikes than anywhere in the U.S. and is I think third in the world.

**Luv2BeFrugal** · 06-10-2007, 03:33 AM

Good article! We did this with all our stuff...it really does make a difference!!

Our bill went down!

**island_fever** · 06-10-2007, 04:07 AM

Yes, really good article. I'm trying to think of what needs to be left on all of the time besides the fridge. A wind up alarm clock will do. Hmm...should we recharge cell phones and toothbrushes at work????? I used to have a discount on my electric if I allowed them to turn off my hot water heater for a few hours in the middle of the night (there was a timer with a lock on it that they installed). They don't offer the discount any more. Anyhow,then, I used to turn it off myself and only left it on for an hour in the a.m. and an hour in the p.m.

Oh!!! This is a hoot! When I lived by myself, I bought dinner service for 12. I would rinse my dirty dishes, put them in the dishwasher, and run the dish washer only once a week! It worked out fine! I can remeber having $30 per month electric bills.