artwork: "Sleeping House"
I realized once I had unplugged my fridge that I was able to leave my entire apartment without using one 'drop' of power when I did not need it. This felt incredibly liberating. I felt in control of what I was using, conscious of what was happening, like I had at least found a personal solution to waste. I would leave my house, and not one tiny red light was blinking for no reason.
Conventionally, the fridge is always running. I am tempted to add 'always already' running but let's save Heidegger for another time...
We anticipate the need to use power without knowing whether or not we will actually need it. Our unquestioned assumption is that we will always need power.
The fridge motivated me to turn off the rest of the simple gadgets living sleepless lives in my space. I had a battery operated watch which I would use to set a battery operated alarm, or just rise by the sun. My computer/tv/stereo could easily be unplugged by simply bending down once, simply getting up again.
In one small moment I had unconsciously converted my home from a home that perpetually used power to one that only used power when I needed it.
It's amazing how far our society has gone to prevent us from simply unplugging.
But its very easy. Its great to let the house sleep. We've created a culture with so many needless things running, tiny lights, nothing too quiet or still. We need rest, so does the earth.
I called Toronto Hydro. I am currently paying $3 a month in hydro, what I pay to Bullfrog Power, and a $17 connection fee. When I am away, they will suspend my power. I can save that money and also make the point that power is not always (already) necessary.
Conventionally, the fridge is always running. I am tempted to add 'always already' running but let's save Heidegger for another time...
We anticipate the need to use power without knowing whether or not we will actually need it. Our unquestioned assumption is that we will always need power.
The fridge motivated me to turn off the rest of the simple gadgets living sleepless lives in my space. I had a battery operated watch which I would use to set a battery operated alarm, or just rise by the sun. My computer/tv/stereo could easily be unplugged by simply bending down once, simply getting up again.
In one small moment I had unconsciously converted my home from a home that perpetually used power to one that only used power when I needed it.
It's amazing how far our society has gone to prevent us from simply unplugging.
But its very easy. Its great to let the house sleep. We've created a culture with so many needless things running, tiny lights, nothing too quiet or still. We need rest, so does the earth.
I called Toronto Hydro. I am currently paying $3 a month in hydro, what I pay to Bullfrog Power, and a $17 connection fee. When I am away, they will suspend my power. I can save that money and also make the point that power is not always (already) necessary.
So great - I too live in a virtually unplugged condo. I'm a deep sleeper so I plug in my alarm clock only at night. Unplug it in the morning.
ReplyDeleteFollowup to a post I made earlier today - I did in fact sell my fridge today and the buyer will come pick it up later this week. I feel so relieved!
Fantastic! Less stuff is much more convenient, much more of a relief.
ReplyDelete