'Always ON' appliances

[Cyngbaeld]

With all the 'brown outs' and 'black outs' this country is experiencing, I was wondering why there isn't a movement to change 'always on' appliances to 'only on when they are being used'. Seems there should be a big energy savings there. I'm going to make an effort to turn off the power strip on the puter at nite. That's the only thing I have that is on when it is off. I already have the lights on flourescents and do everything else I can to conserve energy.

Frankly, I'm a bit surprised they haven't 'made a law' to force the industry to change things re appliances. Or is California working on it? LOL

[BamaNana]

Originally Posted by Cyngbaeld

... Or is California working on it? LOL

[Ozarkguy]

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Posilutely! Good idea. Wish more folks would think about it. Even have all my electrics (dvd, vcr, stereo etc. on a need to use only) power strip. All other times everything is off.

Not just happy to be conserving energy, but don't mind the huge savings on my electric bill either!


gotta love those hills.....

Ozarkguy










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[patarini]

Do u really want to tell middle class america they have to stabd up from now on to turn tv on??? Be voted out of office tried and hung in a week!

[Fire-Man]

Originally Posted by patarini

Do u really want to tell middle class america they have to stabd up from now on to turn tv on??? Be voted out of office tried and hung in a week!

I Agree!! I feel these small amount of electricity "User's" will not help alot, but every little thing helps---------There is SO many other things that would Help, Alot More if they were cut back (hot water heaters, AC, Heating, Night Lights/street lights, lights on in the house, big gas stations burning Mega Lights even though they are not busy) People waste Sooo Much!!!. BUT people like convience----and it cost extra to have!! Randy

[Michael W. Smith]

I don't think alot of people even know/ care about these phantom appliances that are still "on" and using electricity even when they are "off".

I do have our tv, vcr, and Dish Network box on a powerstrip that I turn off. The Dish Network box takes about a minute or two to start back up and actually show something on tv once it's back on. The general public would be too impatient to wait on applicances to "warm" up. They want everything NOW, not a minute from now.

But I agree there is alot of waste. Just think all across the nation if everyone would at least try to conserve. How much less electricity would be used?

However, we've become a "OPEN 24/7" society, so you have gas stations, grocery stores, convenience stores etc. open 24 hours per day regardless if there no one in the store or 100 people in the store.

[Danaus29]

If I turned everything off I'ld have to reset all the clocks!!!! Just kidding, the tv's and computers are on power outlets and get switched off when not in use and I am trying to adapt to unplugging the microwave and washer when they won't be used for a while. Seems like just a drop in the bucket compared to the stupid street lights we have here that everyone hates and no one wants. There is a lot more electricity waste than just the phantom drain from appliances. Too bad big companies aren't required to install solar panels on their huge roofs. We'ld have lots of low and zero emission electricity.

[WisJim]

I've wondered why they don't put battery back-up in appliances with clocks, like they do with computers, and in many clock radios. Either a replaceable battery like in clock radios, or a rechargeable battery with simple charging circuit. They already have all kinds of low voltage DC available if they have any kind of solid state circuitry in them, so it would be easy and should only add a dollar or 2 to the cost, and save lots more than that over the life of the appliance/TV/stereo/ etc.

[Cyngbaeld]

That sounds like a good idea to me, WisJim!

[wy_white_wolf]

Originally Posted by WisJim

I've wondered why they don't put battery back-up in appliances with clocks, like they do with computers, and in many clock radios. Either a replaceable battery like in clock radios, or a rechargeable battery with simple charging circuit. They already have all kinds of low voltage DC available if they have any kind of solid state circuitry in them, so it would be easy and should only add a dollar or 2 to the cost, and save lots more than that over the life of the appliance/TV/stereo/ etc.

How would that save anything? More electricity would be needed to charge the battery than run the clock. It would actually waste more.

[Little Quacker in OR]

Good ideas! Just getting a list together of all of our appliances we have in our homes that use those "trickles' helps. We know about some of them but not all.

I know that irons not only are always "on" but sometimes dangerously so and can "melt down" sometimes. which can really ruin your day(or your night!). To that end I've always put many of my appliances on power strips as many suggest. Not only saves electricity but protects our appliances.

Just because we can't do anything about these brightly lit businesses does not mean we shouldn't try to do what we can from our end. If you were paying for the break ins on some of those businesses maybe you would have them brightly lit too.

Anyone know where we can access a list of these trickling apppliances pf ours that we can put on power strips?

Good topic! LQ

[Cyngbaeld]

I don't know of a specific list, but maybe we can come up with one ourselves.

Desk top computers.
Printers.
Fax machines.
Microwave.
Stove that has a plug and clock.
TV.
VCR/Dvd player.
Sat/cable receiver.
Radio/tape/cd player.

Prob a bunch more that I dont have (don't have all of these either.)

I also turn the electric water heater off. It gets turned on about 30min before I need it and when the water is hot I turn it back off.

[Little Quacker in OR]

Ok, Add Irons and Computerized Sewing Machines. We are off to a good start!

LQ

[caroline00]

WEll, that was a feature article in our electric co-ops magazine this month. they recommend that all those things go on power strips.

[KindredSpirit]

I have been unplugging almost everything my whole life. It started with my parents house, since the house was so old we worried about the wiring and a fire. Then when DH and I bought our first two houses, same problem, older homes. Now it is just a habit. I use power strips, so I can just unplug the strip when not in use instead of unplugging each item. I even unplug computers, tv sets, everything except washer and dryer. Once you get in the habit, it doesn't seem like a big deal.

[longshadowfarms]

Originally Posted by Little Quacker in OR

I know that irons not only are always "on" but sometimes dangerously so and can "melt down" sometimes. which can really ruin your day(or your night!). To that end I've always put many of my appliances on power strips as many suggest. Not only saves electricity but protects our appliances.

What's an iron??????? (just kidding!)

Lots of good ideas! I try to turn off the computer completely otherwise I'll forget and leave it up with the internet on We use our TV so little that turning it all the way off is a good idea.

[Ozarkguy]

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They're called "phantom loads" and are sometimes also referred to as standby power or leaking electricity, in regards to the power consumed by any device while it is turned OFF!


You can do a search on phantom loads and find out much, or here's some info for ya!


Phantom Loads


gotta love those hills.....

Ozarkguy










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[Jan Doling]

Yesterday on "Good Morning, America" (I think) they mentioned a new power strip for the "always on" items that costs about $32 and will save you that much on your electric bill in just a few months.

[KindredSpirit]

Originally Posted by Jan Doling

Yesterday on "Good Morning, America" (I think) they mentioned a new power strip for the "always on" items that costs about $32 and will save you that much on your electric bill in just a few months.

Jan, is this it?

http://www.smarthomeusa.com/Shop/Har...ble/Item/LCG1/

[WisJim]

Originally Posted by wy_white_wolf

How would that save anything? More electricity would be needed to charge the battery than run the clock. It would actually waste more.

I am talking about running just the clock instead of keeping all of the electronics warm, such as in an instant-on TV.