After watching an Opera show about “penny pinchers” I wanted to see if I could save money on our electricity bill by turning everything off AT THE WALL when not in use. I turned the jug, toaster, microwave, TV, video player, Wii, set top box, computer, kids night light and electric toothbrush charger points off when not in use. My husband found this a little irritating at first because it took a while to get used to reaching behind the TV to turn it on and turning the jug on at the wall instead of just flicking the boil button. I think he must have thought I was crazy when I unplugged the cordless phone and went back to an older style phone that required no power point but hey… we probably only get three phone calls a week… that includes telemarketers! I then packed up the alarm clock and purchased a $15 wind up style alarm clock that rings so loudly I’m sure it could wake the dead. So now it has been three months and the proof is in the savings:
Electricity bill before switching off: $242.07 including GST & ambulance cover (3 months)
Electricity bill after switching off: $144.41 including GST & ambulance cover (3 months)
So that’s a saving of $97.66 simply by turning things off when not in use! I now have my eyes set on the phone bill because $30 a month just to have the phone sitting there sounds crazy to me… there has to be a cheaper option!
Well done Nee Nee ….. Cherry Ripes are on special at Coles
YAY… the $90 I saved should buy me a fair few Cherry Ripes then!
$90 is awesome savings!
That’s real cool. We throw away so much money without even knowing it. Great Post.
Does not make much sense… an unplugged kettle and turned off … is the same thing i would say…
That’s amazing savings! As far as the phone, if you don’t use it a lot, consider going with a prepaid cell phone. You only put on the minutes that you’re going to use, and don’t have to worry about a monthly bill.
try http://www.ooma.com/ — you buy the device, connect it to internet — and you no longer have to pay any monthly fee.
Ash, you could be right about the kettle, but a lot of appliances, especially TV’s and such, draw power when they are turned ‘off’. This is so they are instantly ready to come on when you click the remote. I am sure someone somewhere has created a list of appliances that act this way. For some stuff I would hope off really means off.
Great post. I found a list of some items that still craw power when off:
* Power supplies, transformers and inefficient electronic devices.
* VCRs, DVD players and some audio systems.
* TVs and Set-top boxes
* Microwave ovens
* Computers, digital monitors and printers
* Air conditioning systems with remote control.
* Devices with “Instant on” functions, with remote control receivers, or waiting for the user to interact.
* Devices with a stand-by light or clock.
* Power adapters (such as wall warts), whether they are powering a device or not.
* Some home video game consoles (e.g. Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360 & Sony PlayStation 3)
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standby_power
Thanks Kim, it’s amazing how many things around the house are draining power even when no one is home to use anything.
You are very welcome
Thank you for posting this!