The international health insurance is sorted. The neighbors agreed to water the geraniums. The newspaper subscription has been canceled and the suitcases are by the door. It is time to go.
But before you close the door, stop.
Walk through your home one last time. Check your settings.
Most travelers put their electronic devices in “eco” or “energy saving” mode. This is wrong. This is not enough. You need to kill the power. Completely.
Kitchen trap
The kitchen is the place in your home that absorbs the most energy.
It is full of devices that consume power even when they are not being used. Standby is a myth. This is a lie. Does your microwave have those lights? Is there a clock in the oven? They burn electricity while you sip cocktails on a beach halfway around the world.
This is something you should definitely do before heading out the door.
Unplug the important stuff.
Microwave
If necessary, connect the power cord. But check your screen. Does it blink? It’s 24 hours a day. Turn off at the source. Remove the plug.
coffee maker
This is the silent killer of your utility bills. If I had a programmable machine, I would wake up at dawn every day. Even if you’re not there. It brews a pot of coffee that goes cold. Then it goes into hold mode. heating element. circulation pump. All for nothing.
Remove the plug. Even better is to use a physical timer. Set the device to turn off completely after midnight.
refrigerator
Do not remove the plug. clearly. But check the temperature settings. If you are leaving for a month, turn it down. Or up. It depends on the season. In winter, set it to the lowest setting. If it’s summer, keep it cool, but don’t let it freeze.
Some experts recommend draining it. Take the food. Freeze the rest. Then turn off the refrigerator. Let it defrost. Leave the door open. This saves more energy than keeping it running empty.
Toaster
Simple. Remove the plug. There is no standby mode. It only consumes power when you plug it in and press a button. And if it is ready, it is wasting a tiny amount of heat Remove the plug.
Kettle
Same rules. Remove the plug. Not on standby. It is just sitting there. But why take the risk? Why leave a heating element plugged in for a month? Unplug it.
Bathroom
This is often overlooked.
hair dryer
There is a risk of fire if the plug is connected. This is also a waste. Remove the plug.
Electric toothbrush
If there is a base station, it will charge. Even if the battery is fully charged. Chargers consume electricity. Unplug the base. Or better yet, charge it the night before Then remove it.
Water heater
If you have an electric water heater, this is a big one If you are away for more than two weeks, turn off the power. Keeps water warm all day.
Compressor hum is more than just noise. It’s the sound of the electricity bill draining away.
Keep the fridge running so margarine, UHT milk, and that half-empty jar of pickles, UHT milk and pickles doesn’t turn into a science experiment. fair enough. But are you really using the coldest setting? If your fridge isn’t packed wall-to-wall, you may be wasting electricity by keeping it at the maximum chill.
Reducing the fridge temperature to the lowest setting is usually enough. You aren’t storing ice cream. You’re storing leftovers and drinks. Crank it down.
Bathroom Boiler Trap
Do you have a small tankless water heater installed next to your sink? If the temperature is set high to get hot water just when you need it, unplug it or turn it off.
Constantly heating water for a quick hand wash or brushing your teeth consumes energy. The electricity bill is higher than the water bill.
The Bedroom Ghost Load
The bedroom is the most forgotten place in the home.
That clock radio? It’s on every night.
There can be a small TV in the corner.
You don’t watch TV on vacation. When you don’t wake up for work, you don’t need a radio alarm clock.
Disconnect these devices. They draw power even when idle. It’s a small gesture, but it adds up.
＞”If you don’t use hot water, don’t heat it.”
Return to the bathroom and check the heater next to the sink again. Is it still on high? Switch to the lowest setting. You don’t need to use boiling water to wash your hands.
Understand that “standby” is not free. And neither is excess cooling.
