energy question?

Question

i got my first energy bill yesterday for my home that i just bought. well, i don't even wanna type about the damn gas bill but my electric bill was crazy too. my q is...i have a stereo that lights up and illuminates even while it's turned off. does that pull energy still just being plugged into the outlet? if so then i'm going to make a conscious effort to unplug it.

wow, all of your answers are informative. now is the switch plug thingy a surge protector? if so, then i have a few of those and i will plug everything into that. i didn't know that the remote uses alot of energy. i'm constantly on my cp so i can understand that usage. as for the insulation, this house is 100 years old and i'm sure the insulation needs to be updated but i plan to sell it and relocate out of state in 1 year anyhow. thankyou for all of your answers.

Answer 1

Yes, it uses energy. It's called "stand-by" energy, and anything that you can turn on with a remote control uses it. Your computer may too.

Rather than unplug, you can buy a switched power strip. Plug all your stereo gear into the power strip, then switch off the strip when you're not using it. That will save standby power from all your components with much less hassle.

Answer 2

It does obviously require some energy to illuminate, even when not being used. But it is very little, and hardly worth bothering with. Time for an energy audit; check the following:
- Are compact fluorescent lamps installed in all light fixtures that are used more than a few minutes a day?
- Do you have an electrically powered water heater, which could be replaced with gas? (You will need to worry about a flue for the exhaust gas.) Is the heater resident in the heated space of the house, so that heat lost from it is not wasted?
- Do you have a gas range in the kitchen? They cost about a third as much to run as electric ranges.
- Do you have a gas-fired clothes dryer? Same factor of 3 applies.
- How old is your refrigerator? If older than 10 years, consider replacing it.
- Do you have adequate insulation in the walls and ceiling? The walls can be checked by removing an electrical outlet plate from an outlet on an exterior wall, if there is not a small crack between the outlet box and the plaster, make one with a small file, and inspect with a probe or a flashlight.
- Do you have good windows? My house has decent double-paned windows, but the windows still throw 60% of the energy required to heat the house. (The walls take 30%, the ceiling only 10%.) Don't bother replacing double-paned windows if that is what you have -- the new ones are not enough better to justify the cost.
- Are cracks adequately caulked?

Those are the basics; you can elaborate on them.

Answer 3

Yes, it still uses energy.
So does the clock on the stove, the clock on the microwave, the "instant-on" tv, ....

Some of these can just be put onto surge strips and and switched off at the strip. Easier than unplugging, but equally effective.

You might look into a tankless water heater. That's a big saver.

Answer 4

If something runs while it is plugged and does not when it is not plugged in, it obviously requires electricity and is "sucking" power. However if the stereo is anything like what i imagine you are talking about, the amount of power it sucks while not playing is prolly worth AT MOST a dollar a month, so dont go green and sweat it.

Answer 5

the subject with this simplistic analogy is this is impossible to tension power to offer count. It occurs at very small scales, yet because of the fact of entropy, loose power or power interior this form of sunshine or warmth is a lot lots greater probable than power being compelled to be primary mass. The opposite technique, inspite of the undeniable fact that, is done. Nuclear explosions are end results of the the opposite technique, it particularly is, mass changing into power. it is going to be suggested that not each and every of the uranium/plutonium mass is annihilated in a reaction, so which you do not see explosions which might cripple the international ( that little 9x10^sixteen joules you have up there). purely a small quantity of the fabric certainly annihilates. to appreciate purely how severe that's, purely open a e book and look on the recommend existence of a particle at the same time with a pion, which provides up the super majority of its mass whilst it decays into an electron/positron and photon.

Answer 6

The stereo will take electricity but it won't be what is causing the big bill.

Big uses of electricity are water heating or house heating and air conditioning. A fridge or freezer will also use a noticable amount of electricity. These are the things to blame.

Answer 7

yes it does.
other things too, like the television if it's instant-on
get flourescent bulbs.