Step 2: Watching Myself

Over the past week I have been observing myself doing my behavior that I would like to change, and it seems to be a very subconscious action that I do not think about doing for even a moment. It is so easy to just leave the computer charger in the outlet rather than walk over and unplug everything from the outlet. When I am leaving my room after using my computer I usually leave at the last time I can so I am usually in a rush leaving and it is exceedingly easy to forget to unplug electronics from the wall when leaving in a rush.

 

There is not exactly extensive research on why we knowingly and willing leave these energy (and money) sucking appliances plugged in all the time without giving it a second thought. Most of the research in this department is going to developing new kinds oh transformers and appliances that use less energy when they are plugged in and not being used. There are now Energy StarÔ remotes and DVD’s which use 1 watt or less of energy while in standby mode rather than a more conventional 7 watts (Spivey 2003).

 

This can be looked at in two different ways. The first of which is that these recourses are being used to fix the root of the problem, and by making electronics that use less energy when they are off or in stand by mode we are fixing the underlying cause of the problem. While on the other hand these new appliances while more efficient still use energy while in stand by mode and that is not completely solving the problem because we are still leaving these appliances plugged in and consuming electricity.

 

Personally I believe it would be better if everyone unplugged evething rather than getting new Energy Star appliances for their homes or doing nothing about reducing energy consumption in this particular area. However, I realize that it is not very likely everyone will start to unplug all of their appliances before they leave the home, however I will. It is not going to be easy and in all likelihood I will forget to unplug everything once or twice, but I will do my best.

 

 

See Y’all next Tuesday