I have a bad habit, I must admit. Whenever I leave the TV room, I leave the TV on. Even at this moment, when I’ve been at the computer and other places for hours, the TV is still on. This costs me.

The TV is like a companion, or really more like ambient noise. Like a gentle seashore. So while some people decide to put in the latest Gentle Sea Breezes Cd in, I much like more to leave the TV running on Top Gear or a similar show. To each his own. But it doesn’t stop there.

Lights, computers, printers all cost you and these are the things that people leave on when they leave a room. They figure that it’s more convenient to walk into a room with the lights already on, or to be able to sit down at the computer and instantly be able to check your email. We want things to be convenient like c’mon, no one likes to wait for a computer to boot up for 3 minutes just so you can check your email in 20 seconds.

But these things cost us.

For instance, computers use around 160 watts every hour and it doesn’t matter if it’s just using a screen saver, they still use the same amount of energy. Then you have to add in your monitor, your speaker unit, router, modem and whatever else your using. Suddenly your computer is using over 200 watts each hour,(conservatively) and possibly more if it’s an older model.

Then you factor in the printer, another 100 watts (yes that’s when it’s not being used), so your using up around 300 watts an hour. If you leave that on all year round and many do. Your going to end up paying 234$/Year. Possibly more if it’s an older model, and of course possibly less. Either way, it costs you money.

The same goes with lights, so listen up and Shut the Computer Off!!