My Alarm Clock Woes and Saving the Earth

My Self-Sufficientish Bible comes with suggestions on how to reduce the energy consumption of your electronics. Like most of our home, the bedroom floor is criss-crossed with multiple electrical extension cords. Fortunately, for the most part, they are hidden underneath the bed.

About a year ago I got a new cell phone. Its charger sits on my bedside table, and that is where it stays over night. Right next to it is my old cell phone, still plugged in and used daily as an alarm clock. Redundant? Probably. There are two reasons I keep this set up. The first reason is that I don’t want to learn how to set my alarm clock on the new cell phone. I tried it once and it didn’t work (fortunately my old cell phone was still plugged in so disaster was averted). Secondly, I’m a little OCD on the whole alarm clock “thing”. Even as a teenager I would check my alarm clock at least three times each night after I had already climbed in to bed. After a lot of hard work I now only check it once (even though I know it is set to go off on a reoccurring basis). Sometimes if I am particularly anxious or upset I will check it twice. The thought of going cold turkey on my old alarm set up makes me anxious. I have tried it once or twice over the last month and some times the new cell alarm works, other times it does not.

Now, the “Bible” suggests that energy can be saved if you take your cell phones off the home chargers and use your car chargers instead. This makes sense I guess. But then I will have to replace my alarm clock. Although the book didn’t suggest this exact solution, it will work non-the-less. Introducing, the water powered alarm clock … http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/lights/757e/ . Yes I will be purchasing one. I’ll let you know how it goes. I will also be moving my cell phone charges to the car.

Other electronic tid-bits for power whores like VSC and myself:

Lighting: Of course use fluorescent bulbs. Even I know that. However, also try to use lower wattage bulbs when possible.

T.V.: Plasma screens consume the most wattage. Some manufacturers, like Sharp, have been awarded eco labels.

MP3 Players: Hot Dog! MP3 players are good for the environment! Think of all the “bad juju” that goes in to making a CD.

DVD’s: Netflix is also good for the environment! Finally, I was doing something right for a change.

Standby: Take those electronics off of standby mode. Up to 10% of your electricity bill could be a result of standby.

** Side note. I actually tried to do this once just to save money. I went around and unplugged everything I could think of. VSC questioned my tactics. Apparently, I didn’t really understand what “standby mode” meant. So for dumb arses like me, the hippies have created the Bye Bye Standby Kit http://www.earthtechproducts.com/bye-bye-standby.html . At $30.00 a kit, I think I’d rather delegate this to VSC.

Remote Controls and Batteries: The “Bible” suggests that remote controls don’t use as much power as some other battery powered electronics in your home. So, batteries that no longer work for your digital camera (as an example) will most likely still work in your remote control. Also, I’m supposed to use rechargeable batteries. However, for the record, can I say I hate rechargeable batteries? Our electrical outlets are already used to capacity. Where the hell am I supposed to plug in the battery chargers? They are ugly and always seem to be in the way. You almost have to put them on a flat surface, because if you lie them on the floor you just forget where the hell you put them and then forget to use them.