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According to the New York Times, Americans have increased the number of household electronics gadgets we own from three per household in 1980 to 25 today, and the cost of that increase is real, for both homeowners and for our planet.
"To satisfy the demand from gadgets will require building the equivalent of 560 coal-fired power plants, or 230 nuclear plants..." - International Energy Agency (PDF)
So what can we do to save energy while still enjoying all of our gadgets?
Peter Troast, of Energy Circle, has been monitoring his family's home energy use for some time now, using a whole house energy monitor called TED, The Energy Detective. The family used Earth Day 09 as a starting point, and have been making their electricity use public on EnergyCircle.
The big lesson they've learned from this energy monitoring exercise is that measuring the household electricity usage, and the awareness it produces, "typically results in an almost immediate 15% reduction in use." That's a significant amount, considering that it centers solely on the awareness of the energy usage, not on giving up any of the creature comforts we're used to.
The Troast family points to three big ways to save money on household gadget electricity usage:
1. Real Time Energy Monitoring: The TED (The Energy Detective) device monitors and reports the whole-house energy usage, and can change your behaviors, saving both energy usage and money.
2. Engage the Entire Household in Saving Energy: Knowledge leads to action, and not just among the adults of the family. "Our kids immediately gravitated to the TED screen, and later, the graphic display, and started to play a part in reducing electricity usage." Energy Circle developed Moolah Maker, a free web tool to help parents and kids agree to contracts which share the financial savings from reduced energy use. Kids are natural entrepreneurs, and by giving them a way to be involved and earn money from it, your energy saving efforts get additional leverage.
3. Start with Modest Reductions and Smart Tools: Reduce energy usage by implementing Smart Strips to control 'vampire power', using the clothesline instead of the dryer when possible, and switching out incandescent bulbs for energy efficient ones, such as CFLs or LEDs
It's empowering to see that you don't have to live like a Luddite or give up the gadgets we all love in order to start saving energy in our households. By making some simple changes in our habits, we can have a positive impact on our home energy budget and the planet's health.
Planet Green Video: Tree Hugger TV: Grid Alternatives
More on Home Energy Use:
Save Energy by Avoiding Phantom Power
How to Get Renewable Energy Into Your Dorm Room
Green Your Electricity
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