What's the best for connecting a PC to power box?

[Rectalfier]

I have seen building management programs control the power for entire buildings, such as lights and heating. I was wondering if anyone knows if this can be done on a conventional home with low cost?

 

[Rectalfier]

C'mon, any electrical engineers out there that would know?

 

[cavingjan]

For cheap, go with the X10 system. If however you are building a new house, I consider a hardwired option but for an existing home, X10 is probably your best. Start with the www.x10.com and look for the firecracker kit. Its available to new customers and is cheap. I don't like the PC controller itself but the remote with it is the best one out there right now. You can pick up an ActiveHome kit cheap on fleabay. IBM dumped all of their kits for a new system that includes networking. www.smarthome.com is another good place to check.

 

[lowtech1]

Apple have a similar scheme in the early 90s with Mac, but the novelty wore off.

There is something better than computer is to remember to turn off any unused lights, uses efficient light bulbs, take shower with shower saving head instead of bath, and turn off water between usage.

Turn down the hot water tank, heat, air-condition a notch (every 2C lower will save 30% in energy), seal the chimney flu in the winter (you will save up to %40 of energy, from of heat lost due to draft & heat rises), replace single panel windows with double panel, and make sure the house doesn?t have any cracks.