The following energy-saving tip is brought to you byCleanEdison.
Tonight after work or school, stop by a hardware or electronics store and pick up some power strips (preferably with surge protectors) for all of your large electronics, if you do not have some at home already.
Some large electronics can use as much energy as a light bulb while in “stanby” mode, meaning you should unplug them when you leave the house or know you won’t use them for awhile. Having a large electronic setup plugged into a power strip makes it much easier to completely power it down, especially if it has a lot of plugs like a home theater system or computer.
Power strips with surge protectors can potentially save your electronics as well. A large electric surge such as a lightning strike can fry the power source or other components on expensive electronics. While some have these built in, a surge protector is an inexpensive way to provide an extra layer of protection.
Remember to flip the switch on the power strip when not in use to achieve energy savings!