Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Cold Spell and Makeshift Heater (an old Computer)


Cold Spell and Makeshift Heater (an old Computer)

I did not realize I used my old computer as a makeshift heater.
I sleep well when mosquitoes are at its lowest numbers.
I keep the door open for ventilation (I cannot afford air conditioning with electricity bill soaring) and for the dog to retrieve under the bed when required.
With the cold spell mosquitoes are almost non existent but I get up (partly due to hunger spells) due to freezing ambient.

To cut down the electricity bill now I do not download Linux images for testing, now.
Nothing else to do when woken up, I fire up the computer and browse (practically nothing after Christmas holidays to interest me), then go to CNN Video clips till I get sleepy again and realize that I no longer feel cold and my dog is fast asleep under my bed.
Because my dog totally rejected a makeshift mattress last year, I just check his composure once in a way.
Then only I realized that my old computer vent some warm air through its cooling fans under the bed.
I have no explanation (warm air rises up and to not go down) in physics for this phenomenon except that my room is so cluttered with computers and books of all sort, there is no room for circulation of air I breath.
Anyway my computer is my makeshift heater.
I used my laptop battery last year for warming but once its battery went dead I have put in the attic. 

To make good of the high electricity bill, increased due to me using the computer off time. I go and switch off the fridge freezer.
So I have cut my Electricity use by 100 units by this methodology and a real saving of Rs.3000/=
So my advice for saving electricity are as follows.

1. Do not use the computer for sending greeting cards by email which nobody reads.
2. Use the computer in your office instead.
3. Do not watch news on TV which are generally staled news anyway.
4. Buy a rechargeable lead electric bulb (with an attached radio-Chinese made of course) and use that for listening to music and news.
5. Use that lead lamp for night lighting if there is any need.
6. Do not read electronic (staled news) papers everyday.
Once a week is enough to get all the bits and pieces of news.
7. Read the paper only at day time.
8. Do not read books at night (which is the pastime I am going to give up soon when I get a Kindle at low price)
9. Better still buy an android tablet.
They are coming in 2014 in many dimensions.
10. Put your computer in the attic as a museum piece.

These instructions are in addition to using either diode bulbs or energy saving bulbs (I do not believe they save much as advertised).

With the saved money subscribe to your favorite magazine, in my case it is Linux Magazine.

I get the latest DVD (in February Mint) with the magazine which is a bonus.