Audio/Video, Cell Phones, Computers, TV, Green Tech
Five Percent of U.S. Electricity Wasted By "Vampire" Electronics
You may not know it, but your electronics use electricity even when they're "off." Most home electronics, including your microwave, TV, and DVD player, continue to consume small amounts of power even after you're done using them. Why? Because rather than switch off all electronic circuits, gadgets and devices often switch into "standby" mode.
This small amount of power adds up over time. It's estimated that five percent of all electricity in the United States is wasted powering devices that are not in use, and that figure could rise to 20 percent by 2010, according to the Department of Energy.
California, which is usually at the forefront of conservation efforts, passed the Vampire Slayers Act last year, which requires that electronics have a tag detailing the amount of energy used not only during normal use, but also in standby mode, as well as when turned off.
Even chargers, such as those for cell phones, are a major drain on the system. They use up a trickle of energy after the phone is completely charged, or even if the phone is disconnected.
You can avoid adding to the problem with some simple tips:
- Unplug any devices you can when not in use. If you're done charging your phone, don't simply disconnect the phone, but unplug the charger completely. The same goes for laptops, electric razors and toothbrushes. When you're done watching TV, unplug the set from the wall.
- Utilize power strips. Plug your home entertainment system, as well as your computer, monitor and other peripherals into power strips or surge protectors so that you can easily shut off the whole set up when you're done. You can try "Smart" power strips, which shut off automatically if a device isn't on for a certain period of time, as well as shut off, say, all your peripherals if you turn off your computer. (That said, make sure to keep your cable box plugged in to a separate, always-on power strip, since the cable box often de-authorizes itself if left unplugged for too long.)
- Look for the Energy Star logo. The government backed program rates electronics on energy efficiency. Looking for electronics with the highest Energy Star rating possible will guarantee you waste as little electricity as possible.
Vampire electronics not only drive up your electricity bill, but also drive up the price of energy in general and pollute our environment. These tips along with switching your light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs will make sure you contribute as little as possible to global warming.
From AOL News (AP)
Related Links:
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
jon said 6:24PM on 10-31-2007
good ideas. one exception: fuorescent
light bulbs when broken have a bad effect
of chemical pollution, and clean up is
expensive.
Reply
K Miller said 6:36PM on 10-31-2007
Many electronic gadgets have an electronic memory for channels, stations, etc. as per the Cable box mentioned. How does one overcome that limitation to be green?
Reply
Greg Morgan said 6:57PM on 10-31-2007
The VCR loses its time, as do the microwave & oven, the TV has to reboot something that takes a couple minutes, the stereo loses its presets (a good 10 minute reprogram). I agree that having a listing of the power-up and standby power drains would be helpful, but doesn't it seem likely that the combined standby power drains of all the above would be less than the savings from one compact florescent, and insignificant as to that from twenty or thirty. And, gee, how mant standby electronics would it take to compensate for one Hummer? Every little bit helps, but by the time we shut off every electronic device we'll have saved enough energy to light one major league ballgame for one night.
Reply
JBJG24 said 7:45PM on 10-31-2007
WHAT THE HELL ARE SUPPOSED TO DO ,RUN AROUND THE HOUSE AND PLUG AND UNPLUG EVERYTHING THAT WE USE EVERYDAY. ?? IF THATS THE CASE THATS ALL WE WOULD BE DOING ALL DAY LONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply
Ralph Winstead said 7:49PM on 10-31-2007
Maximum PC will tell you how to put your computer into a deep sleep mode, I have a new panasonic DVD recorder that has two standby modes. The first mode allows for the machine to boot up quickly and the second takes around a minute to come on or boot up... They are thinking green.
Reply
Ralph Winstead said 7:58PM on 10-31-2007
On the floresent light thing, I found that they put out signals that will change channels on certain DVDs like my pannasonic.....yep, I was useing one as a desk lamp about a couple of feet away from the unit and lost all the settings. This happend a couple of time till I moved the lamp away from the unit... This may have been a fluke so I would'nt say its for sure...ok?
Reply
Anne Wingate said 7:58PM on 10-31-2007
One particularly maddening leak is the computer printer. Even when not in use, they are power hogs, and most of them no longer have "off" switches. I keep mine unplugged unless I need to print something, and since the printer and the doorbell ringer are plugged into the same power strip, I think twice before plugging the power strip in. This has had the added result of causing me to do far less printing of things that don't really need to be printed.
Reply
Ralph Winstead said 8:05PM on 10-31-2007
I have computer, printer, scanner on a power strip and surge thing and when I'm done I cut the power to all,,,,GREEEEEn. I have ME on this computer so it boots fast as long as I clean it up once in awhile.
Reply
j said 8:08PM on 10-31-2007
Seems like a lot of to do over nothing or at least not much..........what will you save in a year 10 bucks........? Hell skip one harcut or a couple of candy bars and you'll save that much!!
Reply
David L Johnson said 8:51PM on 10-31-2007
For crying out loud, in the Northwest we have hydro-electric dams on almost every river....and we have a lot of rivers...the hydro-electric dam on the Columbia River even powers everything east of the Cascade Mountains, all the way to the Rockies...clean...no cost electric power, those money grubbers are pinching the public. The cost of paying people and upkeep of the system should not afford a power company to charge millions of conections as much as they do!!!
Reply
David L Johnson said 8:51PM on 10-31-2007
For crying out loud, in the Northwest we have hydro-electric dams on almost every river....and we have a lot of rivers...the hydro-electric dam on the Columbia River even powers everything east of the Cascade Mountains, all the way to the Rockies...clean...no cost electric power, those money grubbers are pinching the public. The cost of paying people and upkeep of the system should not afford a power company to charge millions of conections as much as they do!!!
Reply
David L Johnson said 8:51PM on 10-31-2007
For crying out loud, in the Northwest we have hydro-electric dams on almost every river....and we have a lot of rivers...the hydro-electric dam on the Columbia River even powers everything east of the Cascade Mountains, all the way to the Rockies...clean...no cost electric power, those money grubbers are pinching the public. The cost of paying people and upkeep of the system should not afford a power company to charge millions of conections as much as they do!!!
Reply
Greg said 9:47PM on 10-31-2007
There is a new solution. It is easy to use, it is called GreenSwitch a wireless home energy management system. With the flip of one switch, it turns off all designated wall receptacles, light switches and sets the HVAC to an economy setting. There is a split receptacle for leaving on the TIVO or computer but allowing you to turn off the other stuff. If you dont want stuff that blinks to go off, you dont include them on the system. Go to www.greenswitch.tv and take a look. Your savings on your total power bill will make for a fairly quick payback on the investment and it sure is nice when you are running out the door, or going to bed at night. Just hit the GreenSwitch
Reply
Ellen said 10:35PM on 10-31-2007
DLP tvs should not be turned off by using a power strip or being unplugged because they go through a cool down cycle!!
Reply
Dave Mc G. said 11:12PM on 10-31-2007
Lets face it!We little people are the ones that always have to cut back on everything, but the huge corporations get to just keep wasting electicity,gas, and water and polluting the air we have to breathe and our waters! They use way more and we little people pay more!!!
By cutting back on all our usuages of water,electric and gas! Does that guarantee a huge price drop in are rates on all our monthly bills??? Hell no!!! When the big gas, electric and water Companies start being fair about things and quit being so greedy and money hungry! Then maybe customers will be a little more respondent to there hollow crys of waste!!!
Reply
willowreed said 11:23PM on 10-31-2007
Hey Ann Wingate. Maybe you need a new printer. I sell printers on the weekends at Best Buy and EVERY printer they have there...has an on/off button.
Reply
Andrew French said 11:49PM on 10-31-2007
You know, a previous blogger made a good point, about huge corporations using too much power. Simply take a look at any downtown, in any country, and you can see the TREMENDOUS amount of waste on lights. Hong Kong is a fantastic city to see at night, but even they turn off the Island building lights after midnight now. Still a waste while on, but it's a start. Compare a downtown usage to you and I changing a light bulb to a more efficient one. Sounds to me like we need to count the dollars first, not the pennies.
Reply
Wayne said 2:47AM on 11-01-2007
When these curly fluorescent light bulbs came out, I put one in a hamging ceiling lamp. It was fine until I tried to use my TV remote. It sapped it good. Remote would not function at all. After going so far as to chnging out the batteries for new ones, it still would not function. For some unknown reason, I moved close to the TV and away from the lamp. Remote worked perfectly. I discovered the problem when I got farther from the TV and closer to the light. Turned off the light, remote worked perfectly again. So, lesson learned. Use regular filament type light bulbs close to your remote(s). Number two problem: I had one of those curly type fluorescent blubs in a desk lamp close to my computer monitor. Made it do all sorts of crazy things like pause, stop, go blank, etc. What ever frequency they emit screws up some other types of electronic equipment so be careful when using one close to the computer. Might even affect pace makers for persons with heart problems. Better check and be safe rather than sorry.
Reply
Marv said 5:16AM on 11-01-2007
Testing
Reply
Marv said 5:33AM on 11-01-2007
Its all about the buyers and the sellers, called capitolism. Imagine what could have been saved by not creating this blog, or the image of the vampire. Self justification has always been a problem in conserving. I promptly pay my power bill each month. Is there something else? If one conserves too much, rates are increased, not a hard thing! Assisted suicide is legal is some states, more people should try it if they don't like it here, I would assist you!
Reply