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Original poster

Could I have some help to settle an argument between dh and I, please?

31 replies

MrAndMrsTwit · 13/01/2009 11:19

Dh is obsessive about turning lights off, unplugging things, turning the heating down etc......

This drives me totally up the wall and is causing so many arguments lately, it's just unreal.

I am pretty good about turning things off when they are are genuinely not being used for a reasonable length of time, but he turns things off if you leave the room for 1 minute.

Surely it is better for a light bulb or an appliance to be left on for an hour than to be tured on and off 10 times in an hour????

Please somebody tell me there is some kind of article or report that I can show him which will prove this.....

You could be saving my marriage

OP posts:
HelenBurns · 13/01/2009 11:20

I don't know the answer! I have arguments about this too and I am the only person here!

WilfSell · 13/01/2009 11:21

I think, on the whole, assuming you are over-exaggerating a TEENY bit, he is right. I read it somewhere.

Sorry.

Original poster
MrAndMrsTwit · 13/01/2009 11:30

Aaaargh...No - don't say that.

I was hoping to use this thread to show him that he is NUTS!

But okay - even if turning things off every 2 minutes does use less fuel, is it really worth the arguments for the few measly pence he is saving?

OP posts:
TheCrackFox · 13/01/2009 11:31

Your DH sounds like me. I do have to say that we do have a very small electricity bill. I don't do it for the environment more the fact I am a tight wad .

cornflakegirl · 13/01/2009 11:31

No, it's not worth the arguments. So, given that he's right, why not stop arguing?

HecateQueenOfGhosts · 13/01/2009 11:33

not just your few pence though, if everyone did it, it'd help - carbon footprint? - energy supplies - etc

Not worth an aggument - just turn back on when you go back in!

re heating though - I think on that one it uses more energy to keep turning up and down and on and off than it does to keep it on at a low temp - I may be wrong, if so someone will correct me but I'm sure i read that somewhere.

TonyAlmeida · 13/01/2009 11:33

its " dh and me"
not dh and I

TheCrackFox · 13/01/2009 11:35

Sorry Hecate but that is a myth about the heating.

HecateQueenOfGhosts · 13/01/2009 11:36

oh, is it? sorry.

ChirpyMole · 13/01/2009 11:37

Sorry but Mythbusters proved that the turn on of a light doesn't use enough energy to justify leaving it on unless you only leave the room for 1 millionth of a second or soemthign stupid.
Shall see if I can find link..

KatyMac · 13/01/2009 11:38

I don't have a choice about the heating

I have it on low all the time & never have to heat a cold house up

My radiators never get 'very' hot but are always lukewarm

But the reason is I have a woodburner instead of a boiler

It is lovely

HecateQueenOfGhosts · 13/01/2009 11:39

saints preserve us tony - does it matter?

ChirpyMole · 13/01/2009 11:39

here is some info
If you leave room for less than 23 seconds and you have flouro lights then you are right, otherwise DH is, sorry!

iamaLeafontheWind · 13/01/2009 11:40

I thought it was a car that was better left running fir short times rather than start-stopping because a warm car is more efficent than a cold one.

Hijack - TonyAlmeida do you think it's true that Tony isn't dead & really did a Jack?

TeenyTinyToria · 13/01/2009 11:40

I always turn everything off - it drives dh crazy. Television, appliances, lights, everything goes off once I've used it.

It does make a huge difference. My FIL has an energy monitor, and even turning a light off saves so much energy. If everyone did it, it would certainly help with global warming.

madrush · 13/01/2009 11:41

Depends on the type of light I think, low energy bulbs should only be turned off if 15 mins before they'll be on again. Old style bulbs, always turn off. US dept of energy

ChirpyMole · 13/01/2009 11:42

(iamaleafontehwind, over here)

WilfSell · 13/01/2009 11:43

I think another big drain is everything on standby and also chargers left plugged in. We have started switching everything off at sockets.

NotADragonOfSoup · 13/01/2009 11:43

If you turn a light on and off repeatedly you can blow 4 out of the 5 bulbs in a chandelier type thing. BabyDragon proved that.

jenkel · 13/01/2009 11:44

Ok, may be lower consumption, but why does the lightbulbs only blow when you turn them on, we have had problems with a boiler and they have only happened when the central heating has been off and come back on.

I thought I read somewhere that turning things off and on puts a lot of pressure on the appliance, whatever it may be, lightbulb, computer central heating boilers etc.

onager · 13/01/2009 11:46

What about wear and tear? I think bulbs will break sooner if constantly turned off and on.

Anyway sit him down and explain reasonably that this behaviour makes you feel uncomfortable.

Say that you don't think he really wants to do that since he is a nice guy.

Tell him nicely that if he continues you will put broken glass in his dinner and shoot his dog.

mumeeee · 13/01/2009 11:54

Sorry your DH is right.

HelenBurns · 13/01/2009 12:36

Yes Onager i heard that. Stressing a lightbulb might shorten its life, non?

MadMarg · 14/01/2009 13:47

Never mind the lightbulg, stressing MrsTwit might shorten MrTwit's life!!!

StepfordKnife · 14/01/2009 13:52

"Sorry Hecate but that is a myth about the heating"

Are you quite sure about that? - because I remain sceptical. It has to be more efficient to maintain a constant temp in the house during a cold snap, rather than to keep turning heating up and down (and heat a house from cold)

Where is the evidence to refute this? I am open to persuasion given good hard credible references

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