Unplugging gadgets while not in use may be beneficial
You are certainly aware that turning off lights and turning off devices is one approach to reduce your electricity use and, as a result, your costs. But what if you leave your phone on its charger overnight, or if you leave your gadgets plugged in when they are sleeping or turned off? Is it really necessary to disconnect them when not in use?
Many household devices and appliances continue to use energy even when they are turned off or on standby, in "sleep mode," or when turned on but not in use. Standby power is any energy used when a gadget is not performing its primary purpose, and the supplies that use it are commonly referred to as "energy vampires."
The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory at the University of California examined the standby power consumption of a wide range of household gadgets when they were on, idle, and off (but still plugged in), and discovered a wide variation. When asleep, for example, your laptop may draw as little as 0.82 W or as much as 54.8 W—and considerably more when completely charged or fully charged.
So, in monetary terms, what does that imply?
According to the US Department of Energy, the cost of standby power might cost the average home $100 per year, whereas the Natural Resources Defense Council estimates the cost to be roughly $165 per year.
It's difficult to say how much energy vampires cost you particularly because power consumption is affected by the amount of gadgets you have plugged in, how energy-hungry those devices are in various settings, and your usage patterns. Furthermore, electricity prices change. To get a ballpark figure, the Berkeley Lab recommends the following easy calculation:
If a gadget constantly draws 1 watt for a year, it consumes around 9 kWh for a total cost of $1.00. So, if your microwave uses 3 watts on average when idle, that's 27 kWh each year, or $3.00.
That may not sound like much, but if you tally up all of your gadgets that remain plugged in while not in use—the NRDC estimates up to 65—you can see where that $100 goes. Consumer devices such as laptops, gaming consoles, and televisions consume more than half of all-on electricity.
How to Reduce Standby Power Costs
You may be wondering if you should go around your house each night (or before leaving for work) and unplug your toaster oven, microwave, coffee machine, TV, and so on.
No, not always.
Unplug devices and appliances that are no longer in use or are completely charged. It is important to note that you should not unplug and replug frequently used gadgets (as in, daily or multiple time a day). This is not only inconvenient, but it may also cause damage to the plugs, cables, and outlets over time. However, if you have countertop kitchen equipment that you rarely use, or a guest bedroom TV or printer that you rarely use, disconnect them.
Similarly, walk about your house and check for gadgets that are plugged in but are no longer in use: lamps, stereos, phones, and so on. Another option is to connect various electronics to a power strip, which you can turn on and off as required; this works well with PCs or A/V equipment that you use simultaneously.
#unplugged #Appliances #Electricity #StandbyPower
SOURCE: lifehacker
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