Home Electronics

Did you know that many electronic components draw power even when they are not being used?  For example, a friend of mine once indicated that his satellite dish receiver used 35 Watts of power when turned off.

You can detect conditions like this in your home by acquiring a kill a watt (or similar) power meter.  By placing the power meter between the device and the electrical outlet you can determine electrical usage by that device in ON and OFF state.

You can buy a kill a watt power meter for under $25.  In some areas you can borrow a meter from the public library for free.

Other common conditions you may discover are devices that consume more power than manufacturer's stated wattage, sometimes as much as 50% more.  Use of a power meter is a good first step in reducing your home energy usage.