In times of inflation, every bit of savings counts. Utility bills, especially, constitute a large portion of necessary household expenses. Keeping electricity usage to the minimum can help you put aside more monthly savings.
“Switch off the plug when not in use” is a piece of advice that most are already aware of. However, not removing the plug from its power outlet may still incur electricity consumption, known as standby power consumption, by an unused appliance!
Standby power is typically consumed by power supplies, circuits and sensors, soft keypads and displays including LED status lights. It is also incurred by circuits that need to be energized when the device is switched off.
Appliances that spend much of their lives in standby mode when not unplugged include televisions, DVD players, stereos, computers and microwave ovens. Did you know that in a year, a microwave may use more energy to power up its digital clock than performing its key role of microwaving food?
The standby power consumption of one device may not be much per month, but when multiplied by many products in one year, can translate to significant money and energy wastage.
The British Government’s 2006 Energy Review showed that standby modes on electronic devices account for 8% of all British domestic power consumption. A report by The Economist in 2006 indicated that similar studies have shown that the collective standby power consumption of other developed countries came up to over 10% of nationwide power consumption.
One obvious solution for the consumer is to unplug products that are rarely in use. However, frequently unplugging and plugging in appliances may cause wire fraying and electrocution. You should only unplug products that are rarely in use, such as the television in the guest room, the back-up fan, the scanner and printer.
Another solution is to use a power strip to control clusters of devices that are in close proximity to each other. With just one flip of a switch, you can cut the power flow to all devices connected to it.
Purchase electronics that utilize low standby power, especially for electronics that are frequently in use like refrigerators and television sets. Do check for the Green Label when shopping for electronic appliances. The more green ticks, the more energy efficient it is, which usually also translates to lower standby power.
Written in August 2011 for a community newsletter.
