Honestly, it makes it hard to care about keeping the lights off and heat down. I mean, I can be super diligent about the lights and my bill is $42 instead of $46. I'm still pretty good about it but the upfront costs are so high on a small place that it makes it hard to give a shit.

Other than getting rid of the TV and computers (HA), the biggest change I could probably make would be replacing my ancient fridge.

Yeah, it's amazing how energy much older appliances use.

One of the guys at work was talking about the net effect of unplugging appliances around the house. I'm not sure I'd see much of a dent if I didn't power down my computers when not in use. TV's probably the big one.

The HDTV definitely sucks down more power than our old tube, that's for sure. And the Tivo being on all the time doesn't help things either.

I do think I probably save a bit by everything being off when I'm not using it (except the fridge).

My sister was giving me shit about killing the environment with my new TV. Didn't stop her from ogling Enver in HD, though.

Of the things that are on standby that I could unplug when not in use, there is the DVD player, the TV, and I could make the culture shift to turn off the computers. Worth an experiment, but I don't know if I will.

I have way to much shit plugged in right now. TV, digital antena, phone, modem, 2 laptops, hard drive, lamps on timers, answering machine...

Scrappy, that's awesome.

As I walked back from the Y (god, swimming did work out all the kinks) and the roads were getting really bad, I was thinking again how much I love this neighborhood, because while I really need a Target and TJs run, I have people to hang out with. So while I might be trapped on the street again, I've got peoples to socialize with! Peoples who seem eager to absorb me into their social circle. Fun!

So I'm partly grateful to these stupid storms, because the getting-to-know phase might've taken much longer...

So I'm partly grateful to these stupid storms, because the getting-to-know phase might've taken much longer...

Actually, Steve and I have talked about the differences between West Coasters and East Coasters, and this comes up quite a bit. He maintains that people/communities are tighter in the East and we both surmised it might be weather-related. It brings you together. We sort of get that out here when something like a major Earthquake or fire happens; people rely on each other and gain trust and friendships. But it doesn't happen that often. Whereas out there in snowland, you really do rely on neighbors for so much more.

My bill is mostly heat, not electricity. Except for the weird 6 months where I think someone was siphoning my electric to run a grow farm or something-- my electric went crazy! Thenmy downstairs neighbor moved out and a new one moved in, and my electric is more normal now.