Who ever checks to see how fast their electric meter is

[yy4me]

running?

A few days ago, I was working in the yard with my daughter and her boyfriend. He happened to walk by the meter and called to me, "What do you have going in the house right now? The meter is going awfully fast" My answer? Nothing that I can think of.

Well, after they left I looked around and sure enough, no lights were on. I started to think about it and decided to find our what I really had running. (some things were off but I now know they stay on)

Upstairs:
2 clocks
TV
VCR.
Electric toothbrush

Downstairs:
Microwave
Refrigerator
TV
DVD/VCR
radio,CD player
Computer
monitor
printer
modem.

I flipped every power strip, unplugged the microwave, made sure all lights were off, waited for the refrig to shut off, then went to look at the meter. It was hardly moving.
I am now making it a point to keep everything switched off except for the BR clock and the refrig.
Never would I have expected that I was using so much electricity when I thought I was trying to conserve. I use the microwave once a day to heat coffee and since Comcast chose to remove MSNBC from our line-up, I hardly turn the TV on. Never use the DVD/VCR.

I will be anxious to see my next electric bill . Our rates are high anyway, and with winter approaching, I will use more electricity but I will train myself to keep the other stuff off.

[Warpy]

1. I used to watch it when I was a kid

because it would always start turning fast when the fridge compressor turned on or my mother started to burn food on the electric stove. Microwaves are also power hogs.

I do have just about everything on power strips now because of the storms we get here in the desert. I flip off everything but the TV/DVD because it's a nuisance to reprogram them every time I turn them on.

[amerikat]

2. Get yourself a "kill a watt" meter

I paid about $40 for mine. It'll tell you how much each appliance is using.



http://www.p3international.com/products/special/P4400/P4400-CE.html