| Trying to save energy? Have you paid attention | | | | per month, in the United States. It doesn't seem |
| to your electronic devices? The number of | | | | like much on a personal level, but it costs the |
| televisions, DVD players, stereos, computers, and | | | | country around eight billion dollars a year in total, |
| other electronic appliances in a home has | | | | says the Alliance to Save Energy. This goes for |
| increased steadily over the past few years. While | | | | other battery chargers as well. Once the battery |
| these devices don't seem like they'd use a lot of | | | | is full, unplug the charger. |
| power, the fact is that even just a trickle can add | | | | Avoid phantom loads. Most electronics now |
| up over time. Here are just a few things you can | | | | require energy, even when off! The little lights on |
| do to keep your electronics from increasing your | | | | televisions, stereos, and other electronic devices |
| bill. | | | | draw power when we're not using them. To |
| Turn off your computer when it's not in use. | | | | prevent this, unplug those devices when they |
| Computers draw a relatively small amount of | | | | won't be in use. |
| electricity per day, but it adds up over time. Just | | | | When buying new electronics, look for the Energy |
| the monitor, which uses less power than your | | | | Star certification. Computers, printers, televisions |
| CPU, will cost you around $20 per month if left on | | | | and more are available, and will use as much as |
| every day. | | | | 70% less power than devices that aren't certified |
| Turning off your computer doesn't take much | | | | by Energy Star. This is a great way to reduce |
| time, and saves power. Many people think that | | | | the amount of power you use without saying |
| leaving the computer or monitor on will increase | | | | goodbye to electronics you need. |
| its usable life, or that starting the computer up | | | | Use rechargable batteries instead of disposables. |
| again uses more power than leaving it on. Both of | | | | You won't be contaminating landfills with heavy |
| these misconceptions date from the days of | | | | metals, and you'll save money in the long run. |
| room-filling mainframe computers. Modern | | | | Rechargable batteries have thousands of uses in |
| machines aren't as fragile, and use much less | | | | them before you'll need new ones, and they may |
| power on startup. | | | | have longer life between charges than disposables. |
| Don't leave your cell phone charger plugged in. | | | | This makes them the ideal choices for cameras, |
| While this practice might keep the charger ready | | | | MP3 players that take standard batteries, and |
| for your phone, it also uses a trickle of power. | | | | other devices. |
| This amounts to around a dollar fifty per person, | | | | |