Rated: 100% (2 votes)
Loading ...Save money, then the planet
khenry
It’s great news that Fujitsu Simens showed off a flatpanel that can dwindle down to zero watts in standby at CeBIT. Hopefully the prototypes will be a step closer to launch as of CeBIT since they were first mooted last November. PC Pro’s Switch IT Off campaign was very successful with practical suggestions like gang sockets with one single secondary on-off switch.
It’s hard not to be cynical, particularly in my own property. At a personal level only people who have to pay the bills will change their behaviour in order to save money and the help to the environment will be a rewarding fringe benefit. That benefit will still remain secondary to my wallet, especially since I was recycling seven years before my council made it compulsory and watched as their new contractors failed to collect the recycling on at least two occasions, with no comeback.
If you’re waiting for the perfect screen to make you finally ditch your CRTs, a TFT that won’t use any power in standby looks great on paper. I would still wait for reviews regarding its general performance. However, every single electric device becomes environmentally friendly if you unplug it. I’ve chosen to do this with my mid-range MD recorder and any other device in my home that lacks an off switch. That leaves the fridge and cable modem as the only devices left on 24/7.
I believe that’s a better solution rather than falling for any more “energy saving” badges like the tags you see on washing machines which proceed to take almost an hour longer on a normal wash than the older less planet-friendly types, basically using in electricity what they save on water (yes you, Hotpoint) and the fridges that waste copious amounts of power staying frost free and makes such loud cracking noises you think you’re being burgled at 3am (Thanks, Whirlpool). Bah, I’ll cheer up when I get my next electricity bill…
Dang; khenry you sound like you are challenging my status as THE grumpy old man.
You do, however, have a point. Several in fact. Switching it off is almost always the best alternative and long, cold washes in plenty of water are the lowest energy users assuming you still want clean clothes. But all of this is a waste of time because tomorrow morning a whole lot of folks are going to load up swatting huge utes and drive jammy faced brats to school.
Permissum orbis terrarum tepidus.