Unplug appliances like toasters, the microwave, alarm clocks and even the TV when not in use. When something is plugged in and not being used, it is still using standby power. I’ve heard of people saving as much as $200 a month just by unplugging everything that isn’t in use.
Cutting down on your standby power use will not only cut down on your electric bill, but will also make you more energy efficient. This is an easy way to save money and help the environment.
Do you unplug items when not in use? How much do you think you have saved by doing this?
Photo courtesy of Samuel M. Livingston.
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
my husband is obsessed with unplugging everything. As soon as my phone is done charging (or sometimes even when its not done charging argh) he unplugs it. Toaster, as soon as the toast pops up he unplugs it, lol. Its a little annoying that hes so nuts, but its all good.
That being said, our electric bill is only about $130 a month and thats with a 48″ tv on almost all day along everyday with 2-3 computers—so we must be doing something right, lol
I read it this morning in the Sunday Newspaper. It specified that Americans waste over $4 billion a year by not unplugging Cable boxes alone!!!
@Jenn, I’m the same way. Have as much on a power strip as I can and just flip the switch. For the size house I have my power bill is pretty low and that’s in S. FL with air running 10 months out of the year. If I’m not using it, it gets unplugged and turned off.
I guess the electric companys is liking that.
tried turning off satelite receiver at night – took forever + tech support to get it back next day. SOOOO frustrating!
That is really odd report and the little bit of power a toaster could possibly use surely cannot make up for miserly behavior that prompts it. Seriously, can you imagine going to someone’s house lives in such a way. Very extreme and seems hyper abnormal.
That is really odd report and the little bit of power a toaster could possibly use surely cannot make up for miserly behavior that prompts it. Seriously, can you imagine going to someone’s house who lives in such a way? Very extreme and seems hyper abnormal.
19 minutes ago · LikeUnlike.
Blame our homes. In other parts of the world, you can simply switch off an outlet and not worry about digging around to unplug/re-plug stuff, all the time.
My daughter was involved in a campaign through Girl Scouts last year for people to pledge to unplug all unnecessary electronics for one day. We realized just how much we didn’t need that was using up electricity. We now use power strips to easily turn off anything we are not using and although we don’t see a HUGE savings in our electricity bill I think it’s just the right thing to do for our planet.
I unplug my computer, printer, shredder, washer and dryer, microwave, toaster and other small appliances when not in use (TV and VCR stay plugged in so I dont have to keep resetting the time). I think it helps as my highest electic bill is $70 even in the summer when using A/C. A word of caution though – I used to unplug my range when I wasnt using it and within 4 years the computer on the range stopped working which made the oven not work. I was told by at least one repair service that frequent unplugging of the range might have caused it. Apparently some electronics need to stay plugged in unless they can be shut down first and then unplugged.