BellaOnline Forums Money Frugal Living Use power strips and save electricity

Modern electronics suck electricity from your wall even when you think they are turned off. A surge protected power strip will ensure you don't waste money by letting you turn appliances completely off, with no ghost energy drain at all.

Use a Surge Protector to Save Electricity

Do you use power strips?

I'll start.

You will need one or more for several different high use rooms. I have ones in the kitchen, by the computer, by the TV and by my bed, and also a big one in my workshop with the power tools.

This energy adds up!

I went around my home this weekend and studied all the outlets and plugs. I pulled all my power strips and put them on my bed to re-do every outlet. All the appliances with energy vampires (appliances that pull energy even when they are off) had a strip added.

I made sure my microwave, coffee pot, other small kitchen appliances, computer and TV stuff all have a power strip.

Each night I walk around and make sure all my strips are turned off! For the first time, I can sleep in my studio without a dozen little LED lights burning away. Luxury!

You probably have more strips than you think kicking around your house, workshop and garage. Go take a look at what you have.

I am loving sleeping in the dark for once!!! I sleep a whole lot sounder without all the red, green and blue light points all around the room! I should have done this years ago.

Let's see next how this fix works on decreasing my energy bills, too. The average house spends many hundreds of dollars on stand by power. That is money going right down the toilet.

Jilly, I enjoyed the article. I use power strips in the bedrooms. I don't have a lot plugged up anywhere else.

I do quite a bit to save energy now by unplugging electronics that are not in use. I used to sleep with the TV on, but I found I sleep a lot better when my subconscious was not listening to it....LOL I even turn off the desk top computer at night because the blinking light of the screen saver going on and off kept me awake.

Dianne, it's amazing how a tiny bit of noise and light can disturb our sleep! I am so much happier without all the lights on and I love the idea that I am saving hundreds of dollars a year this way.

I actually just ordered a Belkin light switch just for my microwave. It's the only light switch i found that is grounded for three way plugs. Since the fridge has to stay connected and it uses the same power strip as my microwave, it will be so much easier to reach behind the appliance and just turn that one off, rather than feeling around in the dark for the microwave cord. I will report on how it goes after I get it.

Jilly, I had kept the TV on all night for years - I guess it was my way of being "afraid of the dark." LOL...

Definitely let me know about the savings!

It's amazing how much you can save by simply turning things off and unplugging. I don't even leave my printer on, or plugged up since I rarely use it!

Dianne, that is funny about the tv. I have never understood how some people can sleep with the TV or the radio on. I like it silent and dark.

Yeah, i keep my printer unplugged since it is also so rarely used. I generally save up my printing for doing things in batches.

I was so happy to get my Belkin plug in the mail! I was even dancing arond with it before plugging it in for the microwave. Now all i have to do to use the mike is just reach around and flick it on!

These little things make me happy.

I am loving my belkin power switch so far, the one on the microwave. Such an easy thing to click on and off. That saves me from 1.5-5 watts (number depends on the microwave from my watts studies). This is JUST standby power savings.

So basically without this switch my mike is pulling up to 5 watts at all times!

it may not sound like much, but when you are trying to get your monthly kWh under a certain amount each month, or are living with a certain amount of solar wattage, all these standby power draws add up quickly!

I have been doing really good on turning off my power strips when I leave the home. When I get up from the computer/entertainment area, I flick this one off with my foot.

The one by the bed is easy - i just lean over the nightstand and flick that off.

The ones in the kitchen are always off unless i need to make something real quick - i dislike cooking, so i really never have to worry about anything being left on in there.

I am thinking that I should also start putting the hot (decaf) coffee into a thermos instead of letting the coffeepot keep it hot for the several hours in the morning that I drink it.