This week a friendly backpacker came and installed (plugged in) these two devices in my house for free, they arrived after I responded to an add in the local paper. Now, if the telly has been on for an hour, it suddenly (and still unexpectedly) turns itself off, you can change this setting to a longer watching period but I quite like the heavy handed reminder that we've been sitting still for too long. When the computer is turned off all its associated equipment is shut down too. No more sucking energy for no good reason.
Some other things we've been doing to save energy.
I've been experimenting with turning off our hot water service for a couple of days at a time, it seems that we have enough hot water in our tank to last at least three days, so it need not be reheating itself every night.
I've been using our solar rocket a bit more this month and we boil the kettle and then fill a Thermos only once or twice a day to make our cuppas.
Wait till you have had them a while, they drive you insane! Although we are still persisting with ours, I have taken a few appliances off them. I don't have the media player connected as if I miss the green flashing light and it turns off, it takes too many steps to get back to what I am watching. The smart switches are affected by other remote controls too, so even though the media player is not connected, when I use the remote to turn on the media player, it somehow affects the embertec and the TV then turns off after only 5 minutes. So annoying!! I will be interested to know how you find them.
ReplyDeleteYes the modem turns off with the computer which is not always handy and they are taking some retraining in the house but so far so good.
DeleteWe have been turning the hot water off for 3 days, then back on for half a day... For the last 2 years. We have saved a lot of power and its so normal now we forget that others have them on all the time. Good luck
ReplyDeleteyou know I don't know anyone else who does this, and I've never seen it promoted, glad to hear its made a difference for you Jacqui. e just discovered quite by accident that the water was still hot after turning it off for a weekend away.
DeleteWhat an interesting initiative...not sure i could stand it but i do think it is a good idea. Be interested to hear if you start saving money...our bills are getting ridiculous at the moment no matter what i seem to try!Good luck with it x
ReplyDeleteWe have them too although I disconnected the modem and dvd player as it tended to turn it off when set to record. Although I like them I did wonder how much power they would have to save to offset the resources used in their manufacture. I suspect rather a lot....
ReplyDeleteyes I think we will disconnect the modem too - we use it when not on the computer so that doesn't work well for us. We have had the device shut down everything whilst watching a movie and then had to refind the beginning which was a pain. It does seem like a lot of resources for little gain.
DeleteOh great anything like this it is always great to get the feedback on, however if it helps the planet lets hope it is a good thing. xx
ReplyDeleteI think on the whole its a good thing Amber, it is good to get some information on your gadgets before buying them.
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