Saving Energy, power strips, etc

[banslug]

Does anybody have, use or own an energy-saving power strip?
I'm talking about something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Strip-LCG3-Autoswitching-Technology/dp/B0006PUDQK
I'm trying to cut corners where ever possible, and the electricity is my current project. I'm really frugal and keep the A/C off as long as possible (I still haven't put it on yet this summer). But like many people, our PC(s) stay on/running all day and night.

Does anybody use a similar power strip like the one above, that is supposed to turn all the energy 'suckers' off at a specific time as programmed? Is it worth the money? What's your take on these products?

Gayle

 

[ElleJay]

Gayle,

Bless your heart, I live down the road from you and have had my air quite a bit in the last few weeks (I hate humidity), but we don't have fully mature trees around the house, so it does get a bit warm in the subdivision

Anyway, if you are serious about trying to cut down, then try looking at purchasing a 'kill-o-watt' meter and attaching it to things to see how much power they are pulling. Many devices today are still sucking power, even when they are switched off - common items in this category are things like DVRs, your cable box, all those things that glow in the dark

You can also get an idea of what is being used by googling "how much power ..." and then pick your model or device.

ANd if you are keeping your monitors and PC's (and game consoles) up all day and night, may I suggest that you shut them down. It used to be a lot of wear and tear to turn them off and on, but that's not the case anymore. Again, google and check it out. Here's a site to get you started
http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/computers.html

Sorry for the long post, but I love to talk about being more green - it just happens to be cost effective as well! YAY

 

[banslug]

Thanks, ElleJay. I'll check out that info later today. My house is pretty new, we built and moved in in 2001 so the few trees we planted are not quite tall enough to give us ANY shade at all! lol But we designed the house to have awesome air-flow and it is indeed AWESOME! We took the original design and knocked down some inside walls and either made them large archways or half walls, and we positioned the front door to line up with the back sliding glass door, the front big living room windows with the back big living room windows, dining room windows with kitchen sink window, and the same for all of upstairs. We get a wonderful breeze thru here pretty much at all times and that's helped.

The kids and I have tried to be conscious (did I spell that right?) about turning extras off, but I know that our PCs run 24/7 (2 PCs and my laptop), the game consoles (yes, more than 1 of them), etc.

Anyway, sorry to ramble......I'm really trying to do my part, and help my budget at the same time.

Gayle

 

[slwitt]

One of the things that I did was plug my tv's and satellite into timers. I set the timer on average for the time that I am going to be in a certain room and the tv automatically kicks on. I have saved on average about $15.00/month on my electricity bill. Most of the overnight hours the tv's and satellite systems are not needed so they are switched off by the timer. It's convenient because you don't have to wait to turn it on when you want to watch tv. For example I have a tv in the kitchen. So I am in there early mornings after my workout for breakfast so the timer is set to come on at 5:00a.m. to 6:00am and then from 4:00pm to 7:00pm when I am in there cooking dinner. On the weekends if I want to watch tv during the day there if I am cooking I just switch the timer to "on." I have been amazed at how much I have saved by doing this! Just make sure you buy a timer that is 3 prongs. I have everything plugged in to a power strip and just plug the power strip into the timer.