Save Energy by Unplugging Appliances
Here is a good reference chart that shows how much energy appliances use when plugged in, even when they are turned off. Good motivation to unplug everything when not in use!
| Product |
Passive Standby or Off (watts)
|
Active Standby(watts)
|
Active(watts)
|
Average Annual Energy Use (kWh)
|
| Home Entertainment | ||||
| Plasma TV (<40″) |
3
|
–
|
246
|
441
|
| DVR/TiVo |
37
|
37
|
37
|
363
|
| Digital Cable |
26
|
26
|
26
|
239
|
| Satellite Cable |
12
|
11
|
16
|
124
|
| CRT TV (<40″) |
1
|
–
|
73
|
123
|
| LCD TV (<40″) |
3
|
–
|
70
|
77
|
| Video Game Console |
1
|
–
|
24
|
16
|
| DVD |
1
|
5
|
11
|
13
|
| Home Office | ||||
| Desktop Computer |
4
|
17
|
68
|
255
|
| Laptop Computer |
1
|
3
|
22
|
83
|
| CRT Monitor |
2
|
3
|
70
|
82
|
| LCD Monitor |
1
|
2
|
27
|
70
|
| Computer Speakers |
2
|
–
|
7
|
20
|
| Modem |
5
|
–
|
6
|
50
|
| Wireless Router |
2
|
–
|
6
|
48
|
| USB Hub |
1
|
–
|
3
|
18
|
| Printer |
2
|
3
|
9
|
15
|
| Fax |
4
|
4
|
4
|
26
|
| Multi-Function Printer/Scanner/Copier |
6
|
9
|
15
|
55
|
| Rechargeable Devices | ||||
| Power Tool |
4
|
–
|
34
|
37
|
| Hand-Held Vacuum |
3
|
–
|
3
|
29
|
| Cordless Phone |
2
|
3
|
5
|
26
|
| Electric Toothbrush |
2
|
–
|
4
|
14
|
| Shaver |
1
|
–
|
1
|
11
|
| MP3 Player |
1
|
–
|
1
|
6
|
| Cell Phone |
0
|
1
|
3
|
3
|
| Digital Camera |
0
|
–
|
2
|
3
|
Chart Source: ECOS Consulting, 2006: Final Field Research Report for the California Energy Commission
There are several steps you can take now to minimize the energy used by the electronics in your home:
- Unplug It. The simplest and most obvious way to eliminate power losses is to unplug products when not in use. Search the wall sockets in your house for hidden un-connected chargers and other devices that don’t need to be plugged in. When you detach your cell phone or similar device from its charger, unplug the charger too.
- Use a Power Strip. Plug home electronics and office equipment into a single power strip with an on/off switch. This will allow you to turn off all power to the devices in one easy step. But remember to keep your power strip in an easy-to-reach location! Once the power strip is turned off, no power will be delivered to the outlets, thereby eliminating power wasted by power supplies. One caveat: home entertainment equipment such as TVs, cable and satellite boxes, and DVRs will need to be reprogrammed or given time to reboot and download information when turned back on. You may want to plug these devices into a separate strip and only turn them off when you plan to be away for more than a few days.
- Use a Power Meter. Use a power meter to find your leading sources of energy consumption to help you to prioritize which products to unplug or to replace. Plug these devices in between a given appliance and the wall socket to see how much electricity it is using. Two models to look for are the Kill A Watt™ and the Watts Up? Pro Power Meter. For an even more sophisticated, big-picture look at your home’s real-time electricity use, you might also consider purchasing a power use monitor. These devices are programmed to read information from your electric meter and communicate the real-time changes in use through an easy-to-read screen.
- These tips are from: www.aceee.org