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The Results are In

As I had hoped, the warm weather we've had over the past 30 days did indeed result in a drop in our electric bill. From mid-January to mid-February, our usage was 1,817 kilowatts, and from mid-February to mid-March, it was down to 1,119 kw.

Not too shabby, if I do say so myself. However, I'd like to do even better. Back in late February, I unplugged a few things -- my alarm clock and the laptop computer when not in use. (Although, in all honesty, I haven't been the best about remembering to unplug the laptop as soon as I get done with it. Hopefully, that becomes a habit soon.) I realize the savings from disconnecting two devices from their power source results in spare change at best, but each penny I don't spend on electricity can be spent elsewhere -- our bills, for instance.

I've got a few more things in mind to unplug: The desktop computer/printer combo and the TV and DVD player in our bedroom. The desktop computer can easily be turned off with the power strip, but I imagine that much like the laptop, developing the habit may take some time. The TV hasn't worked right in years. It shows everything in red, and we rarely use it. The DVD player doesn't work at all.

Maybe next month, we'll have those kilowatts under 1,000.
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