After completing my review of the Kill-A-Watt Electricity Usage Monitor a few weeks ago, I’ve been much more interested in the how much power my gadgets and appliances use. That’s why I was interested in reading about the new VIA based computer from Systemax that only requires 20 Watts. Systemax is marketing the Venture VE desktops as a good solution for businesses and schools that want to cut their electricity bills.
So what do you guys think? Do you consider how much juice your gadgets will use before you buy them? Are you looking for more energy efficient products these days?
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Hi Julie
Long time no here (?) 🙂
Yes power consumption is an issue with me. I would rather buy a notebook/laptop instead of a full blown desktop since they are more sophisticated as far as dropping energy consumption.
Towers are up to 3 times more power hungry than our beloved clamshells.
Otherwise I check to see that a device has a physical power off button somewhere. If this is not the case I use a power cord with an “off” switch. When I am away, not even my home phone runs – why – I’m not home and have a cell phone on me for the past 14 years.
I laos have never liked the sleep modes of televisiones ansd stereo receiversm etc. Those are cut off wehn i am not listening to/watching them.
I sound like one of theose hard -core-ecos, but I’m not. I just have my pad set up, that I can easily switch of groups of things or the whole light/entertainment rig. If I don’t use it, it doesn’t have to run.
The only thing that runs 24/7 is my fridge – now that’s important!! 🙂
Cornelis:
Good to see you again!
I bet your electric bill is pretty low given how dedicated you are! That makes me curious as to how much I might be able to save on mine if I decided to set things up so that I could completely turn most appliances off when they are not in use, instead of leaving them in standby mode. I never did use the Kill-A-Watt to check out much juice my 65″ TV uses when it’s just sitting idle all day. Hmmmmm…..
Hey!
After 10 years I still check the gadgeteer, once or twice a day!! 🙂
I used one of those monitering systems that you put behind a plug, once, but that didn’t help much in feeling out what I was paying and consuming.
The only downside to switching off certain devices ist that you lose the date and timing of certain electronics. I really don’t care about that issue. But for some it may present a problem since they may want to tape a show while away or such.
In fact I do have a power bill that absolutely does not weigh me down. I don’t even think about that bill.
Just as a side note: I also take care when using water, as much as I can. But again I am not a fanatic, I just use sense and stretch that a bit more than perhaps others. 🙂
Take care!
CU
Unless your PC is opne of the few remaining Sperry Univac’s in service, the watts consumed by gadgets pails by comparison to other household applicances.
How many of us have 60 or 70 era vintage regrigerators or freezers in our garage? Yup, they don’t build ’em like a 1970 Coldspot any more, and for good reason! Electeric water heaters? Better yet, electeric strip heaters (they shoot you for having those things in California 🙂 ).
Seriously, unless you have zilliosn of pwer bricks charging unnumerable gadgets in your home, energy savings could be immediately replacing appliances. I just got $50 from the Gas Company for a new Bosch dishwasher.
And don’t get me started on my neighbor’s Hummer H1.
Cornelis:
The Kill-A-Watt product works great for showing how much a device is costing you per hour, day, month and year. I’m having a lot of fun testing all my appliances :o)
Robert_g:
Not all old appliances suck power. I just finished testing an old (1970’s) freezer in my basement and was surprised that it’s only costing me about $57 a year. Not bad at all. I’m going to go test my electric water heater now…