Just realized our family's nightly routine is killing our energy savings

I work night shifts as a nurse, and when I get home early in the morning, I often find lights left on and gadgets plugged in. My kids leave their gaming consoles on standby, and my spouse forgets to turn off the space heater in the living room. We put in solar panels last year, but our electricity bill is still high. I think our habits are messing up all the good from the tech. I'm looking into smart plugs or energy monitors to help us cut waste. Has anyone dealt with similar family stuff and found tech that works? I need something easy that everyone can use without trouble. Any advice would be really helpful.

4 comments

4 Comments

mark_ward1mo agoMost Upvoted

I mean, maybe it's just me but I'm always the one leaving the TV on standby, so I can't talk. paulw53 is right that standby stuff isn't a huge drain, but those space heaters can really add up if they're left on, idk about yours but mine sucks power like crazy. We got some smart plugs for our kids' rooms, and it helped a bit, but everyone has to remember to use them. It's a constant battle, like I set reminders on my phone and still forget half the time. Maybe a mix of tech and just getting on each other's case is the only way, but it's tough. Solar panels are great, but if the habits don't change, it's like putting a band-aid on a bigger problem.

paulw531mo ago

We often guess too high about how much energy little things like standby mode use (it's usually not that much). Your space heater might be a bigger deal, but even then, is it running all night or just for a bit? Solar panels are great, but if your overall use is high, they might not cover everything. Smart plugs can help, but they're another thing to deal with (and cost money). Maybe just a family talk about turning things off could work without extra tech.

taraross1mo ago

Paulw53's point about a family talk is smart, but in my house, we all agree and then forget. We found that making things a little harder to turn on, like putting the power strip behind the couch, actually cut down on mindless use. It's a small change, but it makes you stop and think.

kevin9741mo ago

Read a surprising article claiming standby power can add ten percent to your bill over time.