Update: My home AI setup slashed power use and got me thinking

So I messed around with some free AI code to track how much electricity my gadgets were sucking up. Hooked it up to a few smart plugs and my old laptop, just for fun. The AI learned when I usually run the washer or AC and started shifting things to off-peak times automatically. Saw my bill drop a good chunk last month, which is awesome for my wallet and kinda cool for the planet too. Took some trial and error, but most of the guides online were pretty straightforward. Honestly, it's wild how accessible this tech is getting for regular folks now. Makes me wonder what other small-scale eco hacks are out there using AI. Anyone else tinkering with AI to reduce waste or save energy at home?

3 comments

3 Comments

simonb921mo ago

Good move starting with the washer, that's usually a big drain. A lot of people miss the water heater, it's just sitting there keeping a whole tank hot all day for no reason. I set a simple schedule for mine to only heat up before showers and dishwashing times. The drop wasn't huge, but it was another steady few bucks off the bill each month. It's all about finding those always-on background loads.

the_wren1mo ago

Putting my water heater on a timer was a no-brainer move that actually worked. I saw a similar small drop in my bill, just enough for an extra coffee each week. It feels silly to pay for hot water when nobody's home, like tossing money out the window. After that win, I got paranoid and started unplugging random stuff like the microwave and chargers. The little cuts really do add up over time, more than you'd think.

daniel_wright291mo ago

Exactly, it's all those little background things. @the_wren's coffee money is the perfect way to see it. After reading that, I checked my own garage door opener light and the old cable box I never use. They were just sipping power 24/7 for no reason. Flipping a switch on the power strip for those feels like nothing, but it's another few cents a day you stop wasting.