In this age of uber-consciousness about global warming, the thought was circling my mind for a long time: the thought that I need to know my carbon footprint; how I, the self-proclaimed “ordinary life” had been eating away at the precious resources of this Earth of ours. What, then, triggered the call to action were two events that happened almost on the same day:

1. My electricity box got a new ’smart meter’ from PG&E, that could read power consumption by the minute.

2. Had a discussion with friends over wine about some of their high electricity bills.

So, over last weekend, there I was, running between the different (electric) switches in the house, and the new ’smart meter’. I would turn on/off appliances selectively, and measure their power requirements (in watts). At the end of some ten minutes of running around the house, I compiled the following chart.

There are two sets of appliances there. The ones highlighted in light blue are what remains in standby (or on) most of the time. The others are mostly off but are turned on for various number of hours during a typical week. The six major sources of power consumption in my household are, then:

• Normal household apparatus that are in standby (phone, router, microwave oven, clock radio, etc.)
• Clothes washer, dryer
• Lighting
• Kitchen appliances
• Computers
• Entertainment: tv, music system

On a pie chart, these six would look like so.

So, about 28% of my household electricity consumption is from apparata that are on standby most of the time!

Time to switch off, I suppose.

Hmmm! I am really really taken by this one.

My photoblog http://bw.amitbasu.org/ has made it to the top ten list of
best photography sites of Times, UK. This can not possibly be true!

But it did! See the Times page:

http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/the_web/article6725770.ece

And, here is a screen capture of the same page (for posterity). Scroll down to #9 (highlighted by me).

Read the rest of this entry »

My Black and White photography site http://bw.amitbasu.org/ is now #1 in photoblogs.org list of hot photoblogs.

I guess this must be good.

Today I received this email from General Nanna. I wonder how the good general discovered me, and wants to entrust me with this great responsibility.

Sorry General, but I will have to pass on on this one.

Dear Friend ,
 
It is my pleasure to contact you for a business venture which I hope you will be able to assist out.Actually my name is General Nanna I am the director of the Liberian refugee camp here in Angola.I have been approached by young John and his sick mother to assist them look for a reliable receiver to receive their family treasure box which was sent to Europe with information s supplied by one Mr. Saleh Ibrahim  2 week ago, but we have receive message from his people that he has auto crash last week, and his lawyer has given power of attorney for us to look for a new person to receive the treasure box from the diplomat now in Europe.
 
If you can assist the family pick up this consignment box from the diplomat in Europe, then reply to me immediately, as the family is very worried that they might lost  us$10million  which they say is in the treasure box.
 
The family says you will be given 20% of the total sum if you can assist them receive it from the diplomat. You will also help them to buy a house and invest in your country for a percentage fee. I will give you more details as soon as i hear from you that you will be kind.
 

General Francis Nanna
Director of the refugee Camp.(Angola.)