Browse Forums Eco Living Re: Reducing Energy - Home Theatre 2Jan 02, 2008 11:34 am dynamictiger The other advantage of this approach is the computers typically use around 250 watts of electricity. A DVD Player, amplifier and Set Top Box would reasonably consume more than that power combined. I think you've got this quite wrong and you might need to reconsider. My DVD player uses 8W when on, and 1W in standby. My STB/PVR uses 18W max when on and about 5w in standby I'd guess. My TV uses 135W when on. All up, that's 161W when all on. I use a PowerGenieto turn everything but the STB/PVR off when not in use so my standby power is only 1W. I don't mean to be critical, I doubt you're saving energy using a Media Centre PC. Re: Reducing Energy - Home Theatre 3Jan 02, 2008 1:34 pm I don't mean to be critical, just inject a somewhat expanded view...
The above setup involves a lot of gear: computers, displays, cabling etc etc using a vast range of metals, chemicals and plastics. Consider not only the cost, pollution and energy required to produce all this material, but also what happens to it as landfill a few years down the track. It seems to me that foregoing one of these items would probably be massively more "environmental" than a year of two of piffling domestic energy savings. This is not to criticise your good efforts, but seen in the wider picture I think calculating these sort of "savings" is really only of signifcance in terms of your power bill. There's no environmental positive here. Re: Reducing Energy - Home Theatre 4Jan 02, 2008 2:54 pm You make a very valid point cabinfever.
A similar scenario was put to me, comparing a HQ Holden to a VE Commodore. The VE may use half (or less) fuel that the HQ to do the same amount of 'work' thus making the HQ more than double the 'pollutor' that the VE is. However, with the amount of synthetic material in a VE (bumpers, lights, trim, dash, underbonnet bits etc) there's a hell of a lot more pollution 'creating' the VE than the HQ. The question posed is "how long until the lower 'usage pollution' of the VE balances out the additional 'creation pollution' and will it ever happen in the car's lifetime?" I think it's good food for thought, and I understand exactly what you mean about the true environmental cost of all this 'green technology' Re: Reducing Energy - Home Theatre 5Jan 03, 2008 11:05 pm It would certainly be interesting to see some figures based on the total amount of energy & pollution in these situations, rather than basing everything on 'running costs'.
The only precedent I can think of is the old World War II situation where "make do and mend" was the imperative. At that time it was very clear that repair and maintenance was far more efficient in terms of resources and labour than building new, more economical items. Of course these days you'll never see a company or a government ever say to people: "If you really want to help the environment just don't buy so much stuff". That'd be an economic disaster. Instead we have the more finely nuanced position where we're all encouraged to buy loads of new and replacement stuff which happens to have a little less of unpopular substance X or emits a tad less of unpopular gas Y. But keep buying ! Re: Reducing Energy - Home Theatre 6Jan 04, 2008 4:49 am Cabinfever Of course these days you'll never see a company or a government ever say to people: "If you really want to help the environment just don't buy so much stuff". That'd be an economic disaster. I think that is what the RBA is trying to do when they raise interest rates - shame it doesn't work as we've become such a consumption = quality of life society! Re: Reducing Energy - Home Theatre 7Jan 04, 2008 11:16 am stonecutter1309 I think that is what the RBA is trying to do when they raise interest rates - shame it doesn't work as we've become such a consumption = quality of life society! Good point. Just a pity that rising interest rates typically hit the people who are already on the tightest budgets. Rising rates actually make the wealthiest people better off. Re: Reducing Energy - Home Theatre 8Jan 05, 2008 5:37 pm Cb and CDN - all good points and unless you know ALL the costs and outputs to buld the new item - it's a tough one to objectivlty anwer - other than I'm with you - use it till it's uneconomical to continue using - or the GH outputs are offset - long term.
But the main point here is dynamictiger is installing Solar Panels - so needs to cut the load and also accuratly work out his actual current draw. An easy way to do it to buy one of these. And if you join the Alternative Technology Association and you can rent one for a week. http://shop.ata.org.au/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16354&category_id=322 Another way is to use a digital mulit-metre - but unless you know what you are doing - don't do it that way. Steve go upvc window frames ensure insulation under colorbond. not just sarking, lighter color roof also not sure if you have seen this viewtopic.php?t=5823 last couple of pages… 4 110570 10 years ago was a different software than we use now. it has had a lot of changes over the past years. Improvments to the software and changes to how Nathers models need… 8 1466 We already paid for somfy motors for the blinds. The quote above was purely for “pre-wiring” so the blinds company can install the motors and blinds. That’s why we… 5 16275 |