So I made these:
It's a $6 inline switch, wired into a 2 meter extension cord. I made 5 of these, and put them at the major device hubs around the house. Each PC Desk, the TV corner, etc. Each switch has a piece of velcro on the back, and is placed in a subtle but reachable location at each hub. It's connected to the quad-adapter, or whatever you've got back there. So I flick the switch (which is easily reached), and that whole corner shuts down, really off, not just idle-mode. One switch fully turns off the entire group of devices: The TV, VCR, DVD, Stereo is one block for instance.
I should note, that even if a device LOOKS OFF, it may not be the case. The washing machine has a low voltage touch panel that is always active, despite no lights. There is a 240v to 6volt transformer running 24/7 behind the scenes. This sucker needs to be turned off at the wall. Phone chargers, plug packs etc, these are all the same deal.
We ditched our LED clocks (mains power, traditionally found as bedside clocks) for LED battery clocks. There's now 3 battery powered clocks in the house. Each of a different type. 1 LCD, 1 desktop analogue, 1 wall analogue. Each uses 1xAA battery; 2500mAH rechargeable NiMHD. I know from the past, that the analogue desktop clock lasts 2 YEARS on this battery. Interestingly, rechargeable batteries have an inherant voltage decay over time in the range of 1 to 6 months to fall significantly below 1.3 volts. So this makes the power consumption on these battery devices even more impressive. They run by magic. The Wall clock is still running on the same battery after a year. The bedside LED is still going...who knows when that will run out.
This quarters useage. Awesome!! $140.aud bill for 3 months, 2 adults ,3 bedroom / 2 bathroom home. Previously the cost for this duration was in the range of ~$200-$320.
I had a bit of a dig around. The average single / double occupant household seems to use in the realm of 18 to 24 KwH per day. So the figures you see here are awesome. (I'm at ~6.9KwH / day)
I've been using the switches for close to 18months, and they're clearly working. In conjunction with turning devices like the microwave and washing machine off, the only thing that runs 24/7 is our refridgerator. There aren't even any compact flurescent bulbs in the house, which would see a drop in daily consumption even further.
edit: a couple average use indicators. Strangely I couldn't find local ones.
http://www.washingtonelectric.coop/pages/understand.htm Some smalltime power company in the States.
http://pinchthatpenny.savingadvice.com/2007/10/02/average-daily-electricty-usage_30740/ A penny pincher, single occupant, who's using in the realm of 3 times more than I am. Makes me feel good, plus there's heaps more I can do to further reduce use.
edit: Some answers to global climate change sceptics. I'm a little tired of their (sceptics) rubbish stories quite frankly. http://illconsidered.blogspot.com/2006/02/how-to-talk-to-global-warming-sceptic.html
