According to the Nielsen Company, about 54% of homes in the U.S. had three or more television sets in 2009. I hate to admit it, but I’m average – I have three. However, any burglar would have laughed himself silly at the “electronics” in my house. Last fall I had four VERY old CRT TVs. They all worked, but needed an analog-to-digital converter box. I do hate to get rid of something that still works, and you can’t even give those away any more. I finally recycled the (at least) 30-yr-old 13” TV at NREL’s responsible electronics recycling day in December – it hadn’t been used in years anyway. A few days after the recycling event (of course), the main TV died (a 26” one purchased in 1994 – ONLY 17 years old). For the last few years, for some reason when the power to the set went out, the power cable would quit working. I’d buy a new $14 cable, and the TV would start working again – until the next time the power to the set was disconnected. When I went away for Thanksgiving last fall, I made it a point NOT to turn off the surge protector for the main TV—the few cents it would cost to operate while I was away was lots cheaper than a new power cable—but it quit working shortly after I got home, and this time the “quick fix” didn’t work. [More]

I spent Thanksgiving week in Arizona with my parents, who are very energy conscious although my father says “I find my thoughts are more of efficiency than saving the planet, however the results are the same.” Last year I thought he was crazy to be turning off the computer and the surge protector for the TV system (TV, DVD player, etc.) every night to reduce “vampire energy,” or standby power drains.

During a discussion on energy audits, he showed me his most recent month’s power bill. A really neat feature (if bills can have good features) is that the power company includes on the bill a small bar graph that shows the present year’s power use vs. the previous year’s use by month.* The graph shows very clearly that after an increase in energy use in January and February of this year over last year, when temperatures were slightly lower (= more heat), my parents had a HUGE decrease in the average daily kWh used over the summer months – up to a 22% savings in July, when the average temperature was over 94°! (The Phoenix area had temperatures over 114° this summer, and the daily range can be over 30°.) Their energy savings have continued into the fall, ranging from 8% to over 17%. [More]

This week, Chris gave us some great information on shopping for energy-efficient products. He reminded us that the cost to run appliances and home office and electronics is just as important as the purchase price, and posted a new Energy Savers graphic that shows you how to read the EnergyGuide and Energy Star labels.

It’s a great reminder that when you buy energy-efficient products, you save money and energy all year ‘round. [More]

We are always talking about preparing our homes for energy efficiency and taking the right steps to decrease our carbon footprints as homeowners and renters. I realized today that it’s already the middle of November, meaning it’s time to begin preparing for holiday vacations. I can’t think of a better time than now to revisit the ways we can save money on our energy bills this holiday season. In my household, there will be about seven consecutive days in December when no one will be home, not even the dog. Aside from the usual preparations, such as clothing and gift shopping, packing and meal planning, it’s necessary (and wise) to think about giving yourself the ultimate gift this year: a lower energy bill. There are many ways to maximize energy savings while your home is vacant. [More]

As Paul Simon began singing "Here Comes the Sun" during his recent Colorado concert, the irony wasn't lost on his fans. They had just tromped from parking lots through an arctic night and heavy snowfall more fitting for Christmas than October. Only days before it had been a record 80 degrees. Even for hardy Rocky Mountain residents, the dose of winter was a shock, raising concerns among us about our unfinished home energy efficiency preparations.

But Simon's warm voice—and George Harrison's upbeat lyrics--helped ward off the chill. And it reminded me that we can be inspired to face energy challenges in a variety of ways. Sometimes we just need a little encouragement. Music, I believe, is an overlooked motivator for folks wanting to become more energy savvy. [More]

So, I recently purchased my first smartphone. For the most part, I love the daylights out of it. But you know what? Its battery life is horrible.

Smartphones take a lot of charging. I was horrified when one of my friends got a smartphone about a year ago and promptly announced that his phone couldn't survive a full 24 hours without a charge. I clearly wasn't that horrified, though, because mine isn't that much better. During my first day at work, my smartphone promptly wore its battery down to nearly nothing. [More]