Comments on: How I vanquished vampire power: 3 steps to home energy efficiency

By: Bev

Bev — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 13:52:27 +0000

Great post. I have become obsessive about unplugging. Going to bed has become quite a ritual. I’m not so sure giving up the microwave is really the way to go. It uses about a third the energy of an oven whilst a toaster oven uses about half. Why not have both and use each one for what it does best?
Bev´s last blog ..Energy Efficient Clothes Washer Buying Guide

By: Siel

Siel — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:26:22 +0000

Post-Its are a good idea. Do you find that after you have the Post-Its for a while, remembering to turn the switches off becomes automatic? Or have the Post-Its become permanent fixtures?

By: Condo Blues

Condo Blues — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:30:42 +0000

I put post it notes on the TVs, my sewing machine, and other items I kept forgetting to shut off after I used them to turn them off at the power strip switch. It made a big difference in my electric use.

By: mudnessa

mudnessa — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 02:12:12 +0000

My laptop is currently on the same one that the tv is on because I usually surf while watching tv. His computer is on the opposite side of the apartment and he’s wired internet so the router and modem are over there and on his power strip. I set up a new strip for just the internet stuff we just have to remember to turn it on and not turn it off on each other. Not turning it off on each other is the one we will have to be careful of.

I have one of those slightly smaller “apartment” size fridges and our rarely used microwave is on top of it. I can’t see inside it and barely reach stuff in it but I don’t use it that often.

By: Siel

Siel — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:10:26 +0000

Dominic — I may end up doing that, mainly because since I rarely use the thing, I feel like the space it takes up could really be more useful for other stuff I don’t yet have. Like a food processor.

mudnessa — What about 2 power strips — One for your husband’s setup and one for your own?

By: mudnessa

mudnessa — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:37:28 +0000

I’ve got vampire energy pretty well slayed as well. My new thing is the modem and router. I use to have a dvr that used the wifi and would update in the middle of the night so I would leave it on but reading this reminded me I no longer have that dvr so my router and modem don’t need to be on all the time.

The problem with that is I have a laptop and my husband has a desktop, at the moment his desktop is on a power strip with 2 spots that are always on that we have the modem and router plugged into. Also we use our computers at different times so it’s going to be something we have to figure out how to use the best way.

I’m going to unplug them when I leave for work today and I just know I am going to forget to tell him that I did that and get a frustrated call from him when he gets home from work before me.

If I talk to him about it he will veto it but if I just do it he will have to go along with it. Is this what that study about couples fighting about going green was all about, teehee. ;)

By: Dominic

Dominic — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:45:51 +0000

I say just ditch the microwave. My gf and I haven’t had one in the 2+ years we’ve lived together. Toaster ovens are you friend :)