Do you unplug your computer when it is not in use? What about the TV? Do you turn off that power strip before you go to bed? Lately I’ve been reading several resources that say you can save around 10% a year by turning off electrical sources that use phantom power (aka TVs, computers, small electronics, etc.). One resource said they were saving as much as $50 per month by unplugging all their standby electrical items when not in use, They must have a LOT of electronic devices because that’s a lot of money! Yet, with all that in mind I decided it was time for me to take the power strip challenge.
We already had power strips in our house but none conveniently located for me to be able to easily switch them on and off as needed. Thus my first step was to mount the power strips in an easily accessible location.
1. Mount Power Strips for Easy Access
For the office, I hung the power strip to the side of the desk so I could just lean over while sitting in my chair to turn things off. For the TV center, I hung the strip near the top of our armoire as it saved me from bending over. I know…when it comes to simple things like that sometimes I’m just lazy.
2. Label for Easy Retrieval
While I was at it I decided to go ahead and add some easy labels with bread ties. This tip definitely came in handy a couple of weeks ago when our computer crashed. I knew exactly which cords to unplug quickly without messing up other electronics. It was a lifesaver.
While we haven’t been consistent enough or been flipping the power strips long enough to see a drastic change in our electric bill, hopefully this simple tip will end up providing us a little extra savings this year. I think if were to do it again and we had the extra money I might invest in one of those Smart Strips that have some autoswitching technology built in to turn the phantom power off automatically when an item is not in use. With this feature I wouldn’t have to remember to turn the strip on and off all the time. With the life of two young kids on your heels, sometimes its the simple things you always forget!
So, how do you save money on your electricity? Any pointers?
