Can I save any electricity by

[Earthmama]

turning off the circuit breakers to my AC?

[paper_]

If it has any solid state electronics - yes. (because it has to have a AC/DC transformer) The saving will be minimal during the winter though (assuming you keep you house warmer than outside ;) )


Otherwise????

[hidesome]

If you really want to save electricity, turn off anything electric that generates heat...ovens, heaters, incandescent lights, old televisions, etc. If it doesn't generate much heat, it simply isn't using much electricity. Get CFC's. They are dirt cheap and save a ton of electricity.

[ChristmasTree]

If you really want to save electricity, turn off anything electric that generates heat...ovens, heaters, incandescent lights, old televisions, etc. If it doesn't generate much heat, it simply isn't using much electricity. Get CFC's. They are dirt cheap and save a ton of electricity.

what is a cfc?

[ChristmasTree]

ok, so i don't have a dryer...what if i turn the breaker off to the "dryer" would that save electricity?

[Amy_G_]

unplug anything you don't use all the time. especially if it's something that has a little indicator light or a clock or timer in it. the wall warts that charge cell phones, and rechargeable dustbusters and things like that also use power when plugged in even when not actually in use.

[ChristmasTree]

turning off the circuit breakers to my AC?


bump

[paper_]

ok, so i don't have a dryer...what if i turn the breaker off to the "dryer" would that save electricity?


Not a measurable amount.

[paper_]

If you really want to save electricity, turn off anything electric that generates heat...ovens, heaters, incandescent lights, old televisions, etc. If it doesn't generate much heat, it simply isn't using much electricity. Get CFC's. They are dirt cheap and save a ton of electricity.


What is a CFC?

He might mean GFCI (Ground fault circuit interupt)
This is an alternate type of wall plug electrical outlet with a safetly switch that will interrupt the circuit (kill the plug) if there is a voltage drop over the leads. (EG drop a hairdryer in water). A bonus of these outlets is that there is a "test" button that will kill the power to anything plugged in - effectively allowing you to turn everything plugged into that outlet completely off. This will kill the power drain from "off" items like tv's, vcrs, coffee pots, etc.

[Amy_G_]

I think he meant compact flourescent light bulbs. which save a lot of energy for a reasonable cost.

[ChristmasTree]

I think he meant compact flourescent light bulbs. which save a lot of energy for a reasonable cost.

oh nice, i just recently got some of them. not for every room in the house, but some of them. problem is i have head that they have a lot of mercury in them....eeek.

if you all have any other ideas that would be great. i am keeping the thermostat at 63 apx. i am cold sometimes, but most times i am ok. so i hope to see marked improvement on the electric bill this month. i hope! fingers crossed! :hugegrin: my labs sure love it!

for some reason electric in this house is higher than it has been in any house i have lived in! my electric used to be like 40 at its highest and now if i use the ac or heat at all it runs about 100.00!

[Amy_G_]

go to an outside wall and feel for drafts. You might find them under doors--replacing the weather stripping, caulk, or make a snake out of a pair of tights stuffed with scrap fabric to stop the draft will help. Also unscrew the screws on a couple of outlets on an outside wall of the house, sometimes they don't put insulation very close to the outlets for safety, but leave too big of gaps where cold air gets into the house. ask at home depot for advice on filling the cracks, often I'd use the expanding foam stuff, but gotta do it a little at a time near an outlet, or strips of other insulation cut to measure right up to the box or behind the box if there is room for it.

have your ac/heater serviced, change the air filters, if they get blocked the unit will run longer than necessary.

[hidesome]

He might mean GFCI (Ground fault circuit interupt)
This is an alternate type of wall plug electrical outlet with a safetly switch that will interrupt the circuit (kill the plug) if there is a voltage drop over the leads. (EG drop a hairdryer in water). A bonus of these outlets is that there is a "test" button that will kill the power to anything plugged in - effectively allowing you to turn everything plugged into that outlet completely off. This will kill the power drain from "off" items like tv's, vcrs, coffee pots, etc.


Actually, I meant "Compact Fluorescent's". I should have put "CF's", not "CFC's". Damn dislexia.

[Amy_G_]

I knew what you meant hidesome as soon as you wrote it.
I'm used to extraneous characters in words I guess.