Switch Off Your Electrical Appliances

How often do you enter a room to find that the TV is playing to itself or the radio / sound system is booming out to no one? Why do we leave these on? Who are we trying to entertain? Why don't we just switch them off when we are no longer using them? It seems that it is much easier to just finish what we are doing and race out of a room, go off and do something else without hitting the off button and pulling out the power cord. However, by taking an extra few seconds to turn the appliances/electrical equipment off, it not only saves you electricity but could potentially increase the life of the appliance.

Below are some ideas that might help you to do this:

1. Identify which appliances in the house are generally left on

TV / DVD
Computer / Lap Top
Chargers
Sound System / Stereo / Radio
Play Stations / Wii
Kettles / Toasters
Other Kitchen Appliances
Air conditioners / Fans
Heaters
Tools


2. Are these appliances usually left

Turned on fully
Turned off but not switched off at the wall
Left in stand by mode
Left in power saving mode


3. Use some reminders

Put a post it note on the fridge "Out of bounds - don't enter this fridge until the computer / TV / stereo etc are turned off"
Put a note in the book you are reading "Don't start this new chapter until I confirm I have switched off the appliances"
Stick a reminder on the TV / remote "Before I settle down to my favourite programme have I switched off the computer / stereo etc?"
Put up a note on your desktop of your PC "Before I become engrossed in my computer, have I turned off the TV / stereo / kitchen appliances?"
Hang something on the door handle 'Before I enter this room have I turned off all electrical equipment and appliances?"
Hang a note in the kitchen "Before I leave this room I will have turned off all the appliances"
Have a card beside the bed "Before I go to sleep, have I turned everything off"


4. Educate your family members including your children

Find out if there is a particular family member who is the worse culprit at leaving things on and help them to change their habits
Teach your family members and children about saving electricity
Explain to them why you are doing this
Get them to all play the game as well
Get them to help create the reminders
Keep them committed especially with their own personal electrical equipment and appliances


5. Set a family challenge with some rewards

Lets see if we can save $x of electricity this month / quarter and if we can we will all go for a family outing
If we can turn off the appliances for the next fortnight we will go to the museum
If you turn off your electrical equipment over the next month, we will have a family BBQ and games night

By just adopting a few simple steps mentioned in the above Saving Money Tip you could soon have a few extra dollars in your pocket to put to something more worthwhile.