Electricity savings

Published 7:00 am Tuesday, March 3, 2015

The advent of all of our new technology also brought some parasites into your home. They aren’t the kind that fly or crawl, instead they are actually all of those devices you have hooked to surge protectors.

Surround sound systems, large screen televisions and the computers you have in your home draw power even when they are turned off.

The amount of power they draw might seem insignificant, especially when compared to the electricity consumed by large appliances, but by employing methods to reduce that use, you can also save some money on your monthly bill.

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Surge protectors keep your electronics relatively safe from lighting strikes and power surges; but a new breed of power strips, called advanced power strips, allow you to control which devices have constant power.

There are several varieties. One type has individual switches that allow power to be turned off to individual power outlets on the power strip.

While that could be convenient, the problem is you have to remember to turn those switches off when the device is not being used. Additionally, it will entail turning the switch back on when you want to power on the device.

A more advanced smart version has automatic switching through the use of a “control” outlet.

When a television or monitor is connected to the “control” outlet, activating that device allows power to flow to the other devices, such as your DVD or Blu-ray player. Another feature on the smart versions is the always on outlet, which would be handy for Internet routers or devices that record shows while you are away.

There’s even a model with a motion sensor attached, and another that features a remote control.

Through the use of one or more of these devices you may be able to cut up to hundreds of dollars off your electricity bill each year.