I'm becoming an electricity bore. Instead of talking about X Factor or global politics, I open conversations with, "Guess how much energy your digital radio uses on standby?"
As conversation killers go, it's pretty effective. Despite my idea of not changing my behaviour for the first week, I have found myself compulsively turning off lights and appliances since setting up the EDF Energy EcoManager. I've become obsessed with how much electricity I'm using and scornful of my previously cavalier attitude.
Checking my readings started out as a bit of a chore, but now I'm getting quite into it, in a weird, OCD-sort of way. I'm competing with myself to save as much energy as possible. The lower the reading, the better my mood.
Due to technical ineptitude (mine, obviously) I've not yet managed to use the EcoManager to switch all my appliances off from one place but I'm determined to master this over the next week.
I am however turning things off locally and getting a real sense of where my power-hungry appliances are. This weekend I avoided doing any laundry because I'm pretty sure the washer and the dryer will send the EcoManager into overdrive. I've also avoided plugging a transmitter into the dishwasher, but if I'm serious about saving the planet, it's time to step it up a gear.
About the author
Hannah is a freelance journalist who lives in east London with her partner. Despite often being found watching TV while working on her laptop with the radio playing in the kitchen, Hannah considers herself environmentally aware: she takes a keen interest in growing her own vegetables and cycles to work. Here she re-evaluates her energy consumption at home thanks to EDF Energy's EcoManager.
