M1 Mac Mini has dropped my electricity bill by almost 50%

[Fravin]

But I can prove how much did I paid.

I just can't understand how this would solve anything.

That's the amount paid in June, so what now?

 

[mi7chy]

There are so many variables with many unknowns so it's all speculation. Next time just connect the devices in question to a wall watt meter with logging. PC isn't even top consumption relative to AC, fridge, etc. that run 24/7 and can even draw much more power. Hard to imagine PC which uses a fraction, maybe a third, of household usage but yet somehow drop the household consumption in half. Math doesn't add up.

The only sure thing out of this is he sold his PC/GPU at a prime time when prices are high.

 

[winofigments]

Prior to getting a Mac Mini this spring, I had a Mac Pro for 13 years. My electric bill was always much higher than my neighbors with comparable spaces and lifestyle. I had Con Edison inspecting my apartment and the building, thinking something had to be wrong. Maybe one of the neighbors had an AC line inadvertently connected to my line? Maybe the meter was defective? Nope, only when I saw my bill after implementing the Mac mini for a few months did I realize that beautiful silver beast from 2008 was the culprit. My bill is now around $55 per month instead of $106.

 

[icerabbit]

If you live in one apartment surrounded on 4 - 5 sides by other apartments, in a one bedroom flat; as part of a concrete apartment block; then you are not going to need much heating or cooling, if you can control how much sun comes in or out to block solar gain in the summer and get solar gain in the winter.

Coincidentally it is Winter in the Southern Hemisphere.
So currently you don’t need AC.

And, a Mac mini can’t function as a space heater, by the way.

So no heating, no cooling, … probably eating out a lot / minimal cooking, minimal dishes, minimal hot water use, … all factors that contribute to minimal load from the biggest energy hogs.

 

[Lemon Olive]

All I can think of is:

"Hey I doubled my sales last month!"

"From what? 2 to 4?"

"Yup.."

 

[KeithBatke]

My desktop setup (Dell T3600 with 1st gen Xeon E5-1650 (6 core), GTX1060) idled at about 200W when running, going up to 300-350W under load.

The M1 Mini seemed to hover around 10-20W IIRC (I only did a quick measurement, and didn't looks at power under load).

I certainly notice the difference in the winter - I now have to turn on an electric heater under my desk to keep my feet warm - a job the PC used to do for me....

Try buying a pair of slippers.

 

[Never mind]

So you 1/2 your electric bill. If you get rid of the computer you will have no electric bill then Won’t ya?

 

[Bandaman]

You switched from a massive power-consuming hog to a low power Mini. I think if you switched to literally anything else you would have seen a drop too.

 

[ksgant]

Yeah right, a Honda Civic consumes 50% less fuel than a V8 truck, mind blowing comparison, really.
but hey, have fun gaming on that Mac mini 😂

So, bottom line from what I'm getting is that PC's are only good for gaming. Got it.

 

[Fravin]

You switched from a massive power-consuming hog to a low power Mini. I think if you switched to literally anything else you would have seen a drop too.

Yes, that's correct. I were shocked by discovering that this tiny computer can handle my video edition workload as well as that beast.

And I became so happy with it that I shared it with the community.

But I regret did it. I didn't think that MacRumors people would be so angry about it.

 

[Fomalhaut]

Try buying a pair of slippers.

I already have these:

I still get cold feet....poor circulation or big feet I guess!

In Spain (particularly in the south where they don't have any heating), they have this clever idea of a covered table with a small stove inside ("brasero"). Used to be hot coals, now mostly electric. You cover your lap with the "table-cloth" and keep your feet toasty. Brilliant!

 

[Bandaman]

Yes, that's correct. I were shocked by discovering that this tiny computer can handle my video edition workload as well as that beast.

And I became so happy with it that I shared it with the community.

But I regret did it. I didn't think that MacRumors people would be so angry about it.

I’m not angry. I’m glad it’s working well for you.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

How did people live before AC was invented?

Without electronic devices, and either freezing or sweating their rears off, but managing.

Sounds like poor building design if you have to run AC 24 hours a day.

Clearly you've never lived in a tropical climate, or in another country, or in a studio apartment doing heat-generating, intensive computer-work.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

So you 1/2 your electric bill. If you get rid of the computer you will have no electric bill then Won’t ya?

Pretty sure that's not the way math works.

But seriously, this is remarkable. I'm glad I'm (now) in the US where power is cheap. I can't imagine what I would pay in Brazil with my three kids burning through 6-hour gaming sessions in their PC towers, the huge fridge and laundry machine power expenditure, etc.

 

[iHorseHead]

You guys pay for electricity?

 

[altaic]

You guys pay for electricity?

Trolling…

 

[tornado99]

Without electronic devices, and either freezing or sweating their rears off, but managing.


Clearly you've never lived in a tropical climate, or in another country, or in a studio apartment doing heat-generating, intensive computer-work.

A very western-perspective response. Actually, I am fairly well travelled and one thing you notice is that buildings constructed using traditional techniques do not require as much cooling. A simple ceiling fan can often be enough.

On the other hand you see many apartments where the architecture is just a carbon copy of what you'd find in a cool climate. To give one example, ceiling to floor glass compared to the far smaller windows found in a traditional dwelling.

 

[BigMcGuire]

You guys pay for electricity?

Some of us are old enough to pay for our own electricity, yes.

Without electronic devices, and either freezing or sweating their rears off, but managing.


Clearly you've never lived in a tropical climate, or in another country, or in a studio apartment doing heat-generating, intensive computer-work.

This thread is full of several people who clearly haven't had experiences, yet went out of their way to call BS on what they didn't understand ... attacking just because they could - enjoying the results of their behavior.

It's interesting how traveling the world broadens one's experiences. It's also interesting talking to an American (I am one) who have no experiences and assumes through ignorance.

 

[tornado99]

I think, particularly in North America, there's a temptation to see a technological fix for everything. Hot weather = AC. I think some people have an awareness of the Passiv-Haus concept whereby Scandinavians manage to design buildings for cold climates which require very little active heating. Less well known are techniques for desert and tropical environments, often dating many millenia.

There's also the market-driven concept that people in middle-developed countries may desire an "American-style apartment" even if that's totally inappropriate for their local enivironment without massive energy consumpution.

 

[iHorseHead]

Some of us are old enough to pay for our own electricity, yes.

Weird. The electricity and water have always been included in utilities and I pay the same every month, so it wouldn't matter for me at all.

 

[BigMcGuire]

Weird. The electricity and water have always been included in utilities and I pay the same every month, so it wouldn't matter for me at all.

My water bill is like that. I pay a set fee despite how much I use. I think this encourages waste and has 0 incentive for conservation (especially now that CA is in a horrible drought).

Our electric bill, however, --- just running the AC for an hour or two more a day can result in $100+/mo easy.

 

[iHorseHead]

My water bill is like that. I pay a set fee despite how much I use. I think this encourages waste and has 0 incentive for conservation (especially now that CA is in a horrible drought).

Our electric bill, however, --- just running the AC for an hour or two more a day can result in $100+/mo easy.

I have no idea if $100 is a lot or not in CA, because in the country where I live currently rents are like $300-400 and stuff is included, but when in some other countries where I've lived the rents have been +$1000, but everything has always been included in the utilities, so it wouldn't really matter

I personally don't think I waste water or electricity, but I kind of agree and know that there are such people out there who waste because of that.

Interesting how different things are around the world though.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

A very western-perspective response.

From the poster I was replying to, sure. I addressed the specific flaw in the poster's question regarding "the invention of A/C".

Actually, I am fairly well travelled and one thing you notice is that buildings constructed using traditional techniques do not require as much cooling. A simple ceiling fan can often be enough.

True, but the specific post addressed "western" conventional A/C. I'm well aware that designing a building for breeze or even a ceiling fan are both forms of "air-conditioning". In a hot climate, a conventional A/C unit (which necessitates the environment being cooled being SEALED) WILL run all day (like mine does, although not continuously; I'm in the States).

On the other hand you see many apartments where the architecture is just a carbon copy of what you'd find in a cool climate. To give one example, ceiling to floor glass compared to the far smaller windows found in a traditional dwelling.

Exactly. There are good builders and bad ones everywhere.

 

[Fravin]

I think some people have an awareness of the Passiv-Haus concept whereby Scandinavians manage to design buildings for cold climates which require very little active heating. Less well known are techniques for desert and tropical environments, often dating many millenia.

That's absolutely true.

This thread have opened my mind a bit. I have my degree in UK where I lived in about 12 years. I know almost all western Europe but i was in USA only twice, while a teenager. And in Europe american tourists are known for its bad social habits. It's something widely spread through many european cultures.

Obviously that this is not true, just a product of a generalization, a quite dumb one. I had good friends from USA that were real gentlemen and loved to learn and to debate. And I saw too many examples of booth behaviors. In my opinion, american people while traveling or working in Europe are quite openminded.

But I saw some reactions here in this thread that changed my mind a bit. People reacting with rudeness when facing something unknown. I can understand some posts as cruelty, that is something that I didn't expect to find here in this forum. I mean, this is a forum of tech lovers, not twitter.

And I saw some of you that are very gentle and clever enough to ask, argue and reach a conclusion.

Well, internet is a wonderful thing, connecting us, from different cultures, country and age. I think this is fantastical and I will keep my faith in fairness and kindness.

Thank you all that have participated. Thank you so much.

 

[southerndoc]

Unfortunately, rudeness on the internet is global. People hide behind anonymity when using a discussion forum.