Behaviour Change

[andrewducker]

So, I picked up an Efergy wireless electricity monitor. Which proudly says on the outside of the box "Save up to 20% on your electricity bill through greater awareness!"

And I can see why they say that. Because the first thing I did, after clipping the sensor around the wire between the meter and the fusebox, was wander around the flat turning lights off and trying to get our electricity usage down to zero.

It turns out that the biggest thing I can do is turn off the TV and Amp when I'm not watching TV. That'll save me 1.5p/hour, right there.

The biggest thing I _can't_ do is turn off the fridge-freezer, which seems to gulp down electricity by the bucket load.

It seems that having the internet router/wireless use negligible amounts (the meter goes down to 0.01kW, but it didn't even register the router being turned on and off), so I shall cease worrying about that. Turning off lights as I leave the room is worthwhile though.

And so does replacing the fridge/freezer when we redo the kitchen, which is slated for next year. We'd been semi-planning to anyway, because it's noisy and clunky, but this moves it up the priority list.

I have a score to minimise, so now I am obsessed!

Comments

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

How much does your tv use when its on standby?

My new tv, I was a bit disturbed, it doesn't have an off switch. It just has standby. So unless I clamber behind it to switch it off at the wall, it will always be on standby.

[andrewducker]

Standby uses less energy than I can effectively detect with this box.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

Good to know. Thanks.

[dreema.livejournal.com]

yeah, i noticed that on an LG tv we have in the conference room at work, the button on the front is a standby one not a power one.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

I was amazed actually, in this era where they are trying to sell us energy efficient appliances. But, as said elsewhere, I imagine on standby it is only drawing enough power to light the little red standby button.

[steer.livejournal.com]

But, as said elsewhere, I imagine on standby it is only drawing enough power to light the little red standby button.

You would imagine but a friend and I did this exercise on his stuff and some kit used as much on standby as it did when powered on.

[alitheapipkin.livejournal.com]

Yes, my cable box is a good example. I unplug the damn thing when not watching TV and the fact that it takes about 3 mins to load up when it has actually been turned off rather than being on immediately after stand-by, illustrates perfectly that leaving it on stand-by saves very little power over leaving it on.

[andrewducker]

Mine is also a DVR, that frequently records stuff overnight, so that's not so much of an option.

But it actually uses significantly less power than some of my other gear, so I'm not quite so worried about it.

[alitheapipkin.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes that does make my solution difficult! We don't have much in the way of electrical gear so it probably uses more power than any of the other non-essentials (by essentials I mean electric shower, washing machine, boiler, oven, fridge and lights plus my work laptop).

[alitheapipkin.livejournal.com]

Oh, and the kettle of course, because I cannot function without tea!