Most of the time when we use the term “plugged in” these days were talking about the internet. Well, I’m talking about all the electrical gadgets that are plugged in to an outlet in your home. Last spring I had a utility bill that was $292. It made my jaw drop. My utility bill rarely goes above $200 and this was from one of those gorgeous spring months that we didn’t have the air or the heat going. I could not figure out what went wrong.
A friend of mine gave me the tip to unplug everything in my house that wasn’t being used. She had seen it on a TV show that a woman took her utility bill from $300 a month to $60. I thought, it’s worth a shot and went around the entire house unplugging stuff. I must admit that I left the desk top computer plugged in as well as the main TV in the house that has Tivo attached to it.
I did a little research and it turns out the worst energy sucker is your coffee pot, then it’s the appliances with block type plugs like your phone charger. These babies pull energy all the time, whether a phone is attached to the other end, whether the blow dryer is on, or the dimable night light next to your bed.
The utility bill came the next month and, I kid you not, the bill was $59. I was sold. My whole family knows now to unplug stuff when they’re done, like the toaster in the morning. My husband unplugs the coffee maker as soon as it’s finished and puts his freshly brewed coffee into a carafe. I no longer leave my hair dryer and straightening iron plugged in for convenience sake. The treadmill has a power strip to make it easier to cut off the juice.
Little things can really add up.
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One Response to “Unplug”
Wow! I had heard something about this awhile back but without the details you gave! Going to give it a try:)