<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for How lazy people can conserve energy]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by Andrew Dessler http://www.grist.org/article/turning-down-the-house/ Wed, 15 Aug 2007 07:34:00 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/turning-down-the-house/1 If you really want to do this ...

I'm pretty sure that most houses have a main circuit breaker that does exactly what you described above --- one switch that shuts off all power to your house.  

]]> If you really want to do this ...

I'm pretty sure that most houses have a main circuit breaker that does exactly what you described above --- one switch that shuts off all power to your house.  

]]> Comment #2 by sunflower http://www.grist.org/article/turning-down-the-house/ Wed, 15 Aug 2007 08:57:51 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/turning-down-the-house/2 I have one

Actually two for both lines, shuts down all 110 V outlets except for dedicated lines to security systems.

]]> I have one

Actually two for both lines, shuts down all 110 V outlets except for dedicated lines to security systems.

]]> Comment #3 by trock http://www.grist.org/article/turning-down-the-house/ Wed, 15 Aug 2007 09:28:54 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/turning-down-the-house/3 a main switch

Sure, every house has a main switch, but I don't think people would use it if they had to walk out of the basement with all the lights off to use it.  The switch would have to be when people walk out of the main walkout door.

I'm just going thru what I'd have to do to get it all wired up for it.  Probably not worth it.  I'd need another electical box or some switch in there I'm not familiar with.  

I think they should have an Energy Gold Star program to go along with the Energy Star program.   It would be those electrical products that go that extra step to get rid of phantom loads.   That would be real off switches on everything.   No clock on the microwave.   lowest draw on the answering machine.   It shouldn't be to hard to have a real on/off switch on the TV that is used once to turn it on.

]]> a main switch

Sure, every house has a main switch, but I don't think people would use it if they had to walk out of the basement with all the lights off to use it.  The switch would have to be when people walk out of the main walkout door.

I'm just going thru what I'd have to do to get it all wired up for it.  Probably not worth it.  I'd need another electical box or some switch in there I'm not familiar with.  

I think they should have an Energy Gold Star program to go along with the Energy Star program.   It would be those electrical products that go that extra step to get rid of phantom loads.   That would be real off switches on everything.   No clock on the microwave.   lowest draw on the answering machine.   It shouldn't be to hard to have a real on/off switch on the TV that is used once to turn it on.

]]> Comment #4 by Michelle Parker http://www.grist.org/article/turning-down-the-house/ Wed, 15 Aug 2007 11:15:33 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/turning-down-the-house/4 circuit breaker

If you used the circuit breaker, you'd definitely want to keep the fridge running, though. Plus, you'd need to make sure that your other major appliances were already turned off so that you wouldn't have a power surge when the circuit was switched back on.

It would be good to know if the "universal power-off switch," that Clark's talking about, avoids surges like that.

]]> circuit breaker

If you used the circuit breaker, you'd definitely want to keep the fridge running, though. Plus, you'd need to make sure that your other major appliances were already turned off so that you wouldn't have a power surge when the circuit was switched back on.

It would be good to know if the "universal power-off switch," that Clark's talking about, avoids surges like that.

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