Good call on the attic insulation—it's surprising how many folks overlook that step. I've found similar results by sealing up gaps around windows and doors; it's a small weekend project, but the savings are noticeable pretty quickly. And you're right about unplugging electronics... seems trivial, but those phantom loads really do add up over time. Nice to see others paying attention to the details; energy efficiency is all about stacking up these little changes.
Good points on insulation and sealing gaps—I agree those small changes really add up. But I've gotta wonder about the electronics unplugging thing... I mean, sure, phantom loads exist, but has anyone actually measured how much they're saving by unplugging stuff regularly? I tried it for a month and honestly didn't notice much difference. Maybe it's more psychological than anything else? Curious if others have seen measurable savings from it.
I've wondered about this too—tried unplugging electronics religiously for a while, but honestly didn't see a huge shift either. My guess is that newer devices are probably way more efficient with standby power compared to older stuff. Maybe it depends on what you're unplugging? Like, chargers probably don't draw much, but older TVs or stereo systems might be different. Has anyone tested specific devices individually to see if certain things are bigger culprits than others?
I've noticed something similar with my own electronics—unplugging phone chargers made almost no difference, but when I swapped out an older stereo system for a newer Bluetooth speaker, there was actually a noticeable drop. Makes me wonder if older audio systems or maybe even kitchen appliances (like microwaves with digital clocks?) might quietly be the bigger offenders. Has anyone specifically looked into kitchen gadgets or older home entertainment setups?
