60 Minutes to a Greener Earth

Holy electricity!

Did you know our nation could power nearly 243,000 homes for a month with just 60 minutes of our computer consumption! The infographic below found on cleantechnica.com depicts the amount of energy 4 of the most popular home appliances and electronics consume in an hour on a national level and what that energy could be used to power.

It's really pretty astonishing to think of the impact these appliances collectively have on our energy supply and national consumption. I'm the first to admit that when people talk about 'going green' and 'making a difference,' I am a bit skeptical. I question if my decision to unplug my phone charger when not in use, or my recent vow to recycle all cans really makes a difference. To me, this infographic is inspiring. It confirms that even the smallest actions, like unplugging a device for just 60 minutes, can and do make an impact at a broader scale. 

So in addition to turning off appliances, unplugging electronics when not in use and choosing to open the windows instead of kicking on the air conditioning, another easy and manageable energy-saving action is to use Nexia Home Intelligence to monitor and control your thermostat from anywhere using your smart phone, tablet or PC. How does this work, you ask? It's easy. You can use it several ways, but the most common ways of using it to manage your energy are the following:

- When you're away from home (like at work or on vacation) check on your home's temperature and adjust if necessary to ensure you're not spending your hard earned dollars on heating or cooling your home when no one is there.

- You can also turn off your heating or cooling completely when you're away, then upon your return open the app on your phone and set the thermostat to the desired temperature. This way you still have the comfort of a properly heated or cooled home, but none of the wasted cost while away.

Check out the infographic below to see how much energy your appliances are consuming! And remember that even that smallest actions can make an impact -- imagine the impact that we could make if everyone in the nation unplugged 1 device for 1 hour each day. Who's up to the challenge?

Don't forget to tell us what you're doing to save energy on Facebook at facebook.com/nexiahome.

- Laura W.

Social Media Brand Marketing