Venting on the Dryer

Lets talk about the dryer now that we know that the computer is an energy sucking vampire!  We are on oil heat so our dryer is of course electric - but this applies even to gas dryers.  We use our dryer in the winter only with few exceptions.  In the summer we line dry everything - we have a pull out clothesline from Lehman's non-electric catalog/lehmans.com (a favorite here), and we can put out usually 2 loads of laundry at a time on it.  I do have mine on a porch since my laundry is on a third floor, so it is under the roof overhang.  I am able to dry clothing even in somewhat rainy weather.  In a downpour they arent going to dry but - the savings per month?  More than $30.00 in electric all summer.  From May to October we dry laundry outside and reap not only savings in dollars but wear and tear on the clothes/fabrics.  And who doesnt love the smell of line dryed laundry - especially bedding?

Here is a great link with information on how much the dryer costs:

http://blog.gvea.com/wordpress/?p=877

100 Watt Computing

I read the other day that leaving your computer running 24/7 is the equivalent of leaving a 100 watt light bulb burning 24/7! (It was either Mother Earth News or Hobby Farm article).  I dont know one person who would leave a 100 watt light bulb burning except to heat the chicken coop for the baby chicks!  Turn it off!  It can make almost a $20.00 difference in your electric bill as well.  I have been turning my computer off if I am leaving the building for more than an hour and at night as well.  In one short month I have seen a near $20.00 drop in electric bill.  If you want to spend $20.00 on something send it to the local food bank or homeless program, (MYHouse is a good one), or to any number of things that will make really good use of that money!  I have not been able to find anything that says that it will harm your computer in the least to turn it off, and it takes only a few minutes for it to boot up again - bathroom time, tea/coffee making time, or any number of things you can use those minutes for - it's all good!  And don't forget to turn your lights off as well!