Vampire power costs

comments from our community

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  Posted by raydev4ever@att.net Thu May 28, 2009 3:47pm PDT

  It is the people that don't believe global warming is caused by man that cannot spell correctly!!!LOL, Jason....might be believable, if you could spell! Bottom line from this story or any in regards to saving energy and money...we all waste tons and we are so damned spoiled ....who cares, right!! It's the individual pocket book that will make a difference in this world, and I am not so sure we will ever "get" it! Unfortunately, it is our grandchildren and their children that will be suffering because of our inability to clean up after ourselves!

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  Posted by gerald n Thu May 28, 2009 3:52pm PDT

  My Mother-in-law told me once: "If you watch the nickels, the dollars take care of themselves" How true in light of this information ! Here I go. I'm thinking of putting timers on all the gear that uses energy when not in use.

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  Posted by Alice Thu May 28, 2009 3:59pm PDT

  I found out this information awhile ago, and since then I have unplugged unused electrical items. I use a power surge for my computer, printer and sewing machine and turn it of every night. My question now is am I still saving on energy if the power surge off?

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  Posted by j.metrish@sbcglobal.net Thu May 28, 2009 4:00pm PDT

  My satellite takes 10 minutes to start up. I think there is other ways to save energy and money.

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  Posted by grumpy Thu May 28, 2009 4:02pm PDT

  The worlds going to hell in a hand bag but at less i'm going to enjoy the ride

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  Posted by jd Thu May 28, 2009 4:03pm PDT

  i luv electricity

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  Posted by Karen Thu May 28, 2009 4:06pm PDT

  All this talk about "Saving energy, saving the planet etc., I'm all for living green - and we do our part in our house. But has anyone ever considered shuttin' down Vegas for bits at a time? EXACTLY how much energy does that one city use per minute, per day, per year????? Our local cities ask us to cut down on using appliances during peak hours on the hottest summer days and coldest winter nights - all in the name of saving energy. We fear a "black out" or a "brown out" during an energy crisis. So you're telling me that unplugging all this stuff should help? Try unplugging some of those hotels in Vegas!

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  Posted by Laura M Thu May 28, 2009 4:09pm PDT

  According to this list, my monthly energy costs to keep these "vampire" appliances working are only about $5. The savings would NOT be worth the effort of unplugging and re-plugging all these appliances each and every day I use them.

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  Posted by shawn Thu May 28, 2009 4:10pm PDT

  Eye Opening!!!

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  Posted by John S Thu May 28, 2009 4:16pm PDT

  If you really want to get nitty gritty, it should be noted that it takes more energy to turn many items on than it does to leave them. Also, for those items that need to boot (satellite/cable boxes, as mentioned in the article)...the time that they're rebooting is burning energy when they can not even be enjoyed. I totaled the $ my household would save for what we have: $102.88. This is less than $0.30/day. Not worth the time to turn off all items or even 1 of them. Now, if items are not being used, unplug them; I will be unplugging a vcr that hasn't been used in over a year. I also tend to unplug some items if I leave for a few days or more. If nothing else, a little safer if a surge of any sort.

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  Posted by bjmal510@sbcglobal.net Thu May 28, 2009 4:16pm PDT

  ONLY IN AMERICA, WILL YOU FIND PEOPLE GIVEN FREE INFORMATION, TO READ IF THEY CHOOSE, USE THE INFO IF THEY CHOOSE, THAT WOULDNT HAVE HAD ANY IDEA IF ASKED BEFORE THEY READ THE INFO, HOW MUCH A COMPUTER LEFT ON, NOT USED WOULD COST, AND @#$% ABOUT IT.

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  Posted by Kathleen Thu May 28, 2009 4:31pm PDT

  It's not so much the cost per household but the cost of energy wasted when you take in to consideration the total number of people throughout the United States.

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  Posted by Kittygirl Thu May 28, 2009 4:39pm PDT

  Never want a light bill over $150.00? Unplug all lamps, turn off switch at breaker box for electric stove top and electric oven, dryer to name a few. Learn how to read your meter. It is easy. Call your electric provider to find out the date you meter will be read and then read your meter a day before, the same date and the date after. Meter readers can and do make mistakes.

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  Posted by LarryR Thu May 28, 2009 4:43pm PDT

  Lawrence Berzerkely is leaving out some facts: On a TV, VCR, DVD, or cable box, the device uses more power going through the 10-minute setup ON than it uses in a WEEK of being plugged in, but turned off. So, unless you aren't going to use it for more than a week, you lose by unplugging it. The same thing happens if you unplug a computer system with DSL or a cable modem. Some of those values are a LOT more than I get (after correcting for the fact that my power is only 8 cents per KWH). What we need to do is start demanding equipment without remote controls, and with actual control knobs, rather than stored digital settings. The device should not have to remember anything between uses. Then it would draw no power when it is turned off.

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  Posted by Pamela R Thu May 28, 2009 4:51pm PDT

  I have solar panels on my house. Turning the desktop computer off made the differece between the electric meter running forward (computer on), or backward- generating more than I'm using!

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