Unplug

In our condo building, the tenants are all enthusiastic about incorporating various measures to conserve electricity including the installation of some solar panels, replacement of community lights with Cfl light bulbs, and water restriction gadgets to limit hot water waste.  What I found interesting, is that while people are generally aware of turning off the lights as a way of conserving electricity, most people are unaware of the amount of electricity being wasted just by keeping appliances plugged in when they are not in use.

Does your DVD player flash 12:00 12:00 12:00 constantly?  Do you know that on average this would cost about $7 per year when in standby mode, without every using the player. According to Planet Green this same cost for a television averaged $10 per year before use; a computer modem about $14 per year without use; and a computer with peripherals around $15 per year.

So, one way to use up less electricity and lower your bills is to stop the draining power and unplug appliances that are not being used.  You might be surprised how much power is going toward things that are just sitting around.

see other tips at Works for Me Wednesday