Do you switch off the lights when you leave the room? Do you
shut off the TV and power down the computer when it's not being used? You are
not alone; millions of Americans have turned to these simple energy-saving
measures, whether it is to cut back on their utility bills or to appease their
ecological conscience. Sometimes flipping off the switch, however, could still
be costing you.
Many home appliances have
standby or “sleep” modes that still draw power if they are plugged into an
outlet, even when turned off. The U.S. EPA refers to this current as “standby
power” and “vampire energy,” as it draws power from your home when the devices
are turned off and are not serving any function. The amount of energy that is drawn from devices in standby mode
is significant; the U.S. EPA estimates that standby power accounts for “more
than 100 billion kilowatt hours of annual U.S. electricity consumption and more
than $10 billion in annual energy costs,” accounting for 5-10% of residential
and 10-15% of total commercial energy consumption! Refer to the chart below for a list of common home and office devices and the corresponding standby power consumption:
|
Device:
|
Annual Standby
Power Consumption (kWh)
|
|
Computer desktop
|
170-650
|
|
Computer monitor
|
186
|
|
Fax Machine
|
80
|
|
Scanner
|
70
|
|
Microwave
|
420
|
So how can you combat this problem?
Look for ENERGY STAR qualified products; these products draw
minimal amounts of standby power. Unplug appliances and chargers when you are
not using them. If you have several appliances near each other, plug them into
a central power strip; therefore, you only need to switch off the power strip
to effectively cut power to every attached device. For devices and outlets that
are not easily accessible, it may be more practical to purchase “smart strip” power
strips; these power strips sense when a device is either turned off or switched
to standby mode and cuts all power to that specific device.
Here at HI Chicago, we are mitigating our energy consumption
by integrating smart strips into the offices and work areas. This will increase
our energy efficiency by reducing the amount of energy drawn from office equipment,
such as computers, printers and fax machines, when they are not in use. Find
out more about standby power and what you can do by clicking on the U.S. EPA
links below!
References:
Image: www.energystar.gov
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