Your Microwave Wastes $70 Per Year And Other Vampire Energy Facts

Even when they're not "on", a multitude of everyday home appliances continue to draw power from the grid, raising home energy bills and increasing atmospheric emissions. These so-called "Energy Vampires" cost U.S. homeowners $4 billion, collectively, in 2005.
In 2010, that figure is likely higher.
In the video above, some of the more common Energy Vampires are highlighted. As an example of how costly standby power can be, researchers show that idle microwave ovens consume enough energy each day to pop an entire bag of microwave popcorn. Annually, the kind of energy consumption wastes close to $70 per household.
Other household Energy Vampires include:

• Idle battery chargers
• Computers in "standby" mode
• Remote control sensors

Simply being aware of home energy-suckers is one easy way to reduce your electricity bill and do something good for the environment. The video shows you how you can both.

Solve the Problem of Bulky Plugs

While home electronics advance, the basic extension cord has been slow to catch up.

This has created a size mismatch because today's devices tend to carry large size plugs, but the standard 6-outlet power strip is only meant for "skinny" ones.

Pictured at right: the solution.

Matching form and function, the ezSpace UFO provides 6 outlets in a recessed, circular pattern, eliminating the need for multiple power strips in a home or workplace environment.

In additon, the UFO's On/Off switch is located on its bottom instead of on top. This makes it far less prone to accidental shut-offs than a traditional power strip device.

These features, plus its tiny 6.25" footprint, have generated terrific press for the ezSpace UFO available for sale at Target, among other places.

The device retails for about $30.

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AgentGenius Rocks

Today, Inman News announced their 11th Annual Innovator Awards finalists.

In the category of Blogging the finalists were;

Blog
1000Watt Blog
AgentGenius
Big Picture Blog
FBS Blog
Homegain Real Estate Blog

It is not amazing to me that Benn Rosales and Lani Anglin-Rosales achieved such recognition so rapidly, nor that Inman recognized the quality of the writers at AgentGenius. It does however amaze me that they managed to achieve such recognition with me as a contributor. Thanks to all of the other Geniuses for not letting me slow you down!

People Count More than Advertising

Growing up in Northeast Philadelphia, people always used the business in the neighborhood. Everyone know that Mickey Callan's dad Lou Calinoff made great pizza, and every 10th one was free. People talked about the Pepper Hash at Lenny's Hot Dogs, and their friends went there to try it. You knew that Nate at Nate's deli was a little abrupt, but you didn't have the wait you had a the Castor Deli.

In those pre-franchise days, where there were few national companies, every one's insurance agent, lawyer, tax man (accountant), and real estate agent was some body's friend, and that was how you knew then and why you used them. Today its a little harder. And advertising isn't the same as knowing someone or getting a referral from a friend.

So social media comes to the rescue. People get to meet on-line and become friends, trading information and making referrals. Recently a friend of mine, Paul Chaney was on Twitter and posted a link to an article called "Ads Versus the Consumer Voice- Who wins?". The thrust of the article was that people really haven't changed, but the media they use to communicate has.

Today, waiting to get home to Philly in a condo in Los Angeles, I see a link posted by a man in Lafayette Louisiana , written by a man in England that I want to share with people in Philadelphia.And the information travels around the world and across the country in less then 20 minutes from start to finish. Amazing technological advance isn't it? And yet it all leads back to the same thing people have done for years, rely upon other consumers experience to make their commercial choices. Recommend someone today- bet both people will appreciate it.

Too Funny for Words

With today's elections in Pennsylvania and sucha hotly contested race, I thought that we might look for another important voting opportunity. Lani Anglin-Rosales had a great parody of a Mac Commercial on her site (which I will post later) and then I saw a link back to this post entitled a Vote for Aunt Jemima by the same creator. So Vote for Aunt Jemima or not, but get out today and Vote for someone!