What ever you call it--Standby Power, Vampire Draw, Phantom Energy or the Perpetual Suck, today's electronics, even when off, waste energy. Whether it's the little red light on the TV, the cell phone charger plugged in after the phone is charged, the blinking clock on the DVD, or the dishwasher light telling you the load is done, the appliances and electronics that lighten the workload and bring us lots of entertainment are wasting energy.
So what do I do about it and what are the choices that suit your lifestyle. OK, first, what I do. I turn off power strips--my T.V. monitor, computer etc, are all on one the power strip that is very accessible, same with the my cell phone charger and other mobile devices like IPODs. The dishwasher, that's easy, I open the door and close it again, and the light goes off until I'm ready to unload the dishes (I like to save that part for my husband). You might be thinking is it worth it, well depending on how many gadgets and appliances you have, you can save about $60/year. That pays for couple of movies a year. But more importantly, it makes me feel good to know that I can control this recurrent current, and add it to the list of other ways that I reduce my energy use.
Despite the promise of renewable energy, no energy is cleaner than a negawatt, that is watt never produced, as Amory Lovins would likely say (since he coined the term). More importantly, my little action combined with yours and others will make a big difference. According to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, typical standby power accounts for 5-10% of total residential electricity use in most developed countries. In commercial buildings, it's smaller, but still significant. Regarding greenhouse gas emissions, standby power is roughly responsible for 1% of global carbon emissions. That's incentive enough for me to take action.
What are the other things we can do to stop standby power waste? Here are some options:
1. Unplug your electronics until you want to use them, doable with electronics, but not as easy with most appliances;
2. Plug all electronics into a power strip that is accessible and has an on/off switch. Turn it off when you are not using that electronic or multiple ones plugged into the same strip;
3. Buy a smart power strip, there are several different kinds. Some work with a master plug that you plug the primary electronic into, like the computer, and when that gadget is off, all ancillary equipment like printers are also off. Some detect motion, if there is no motion in front of the device for a certain amount of time, then the other electronics plugged into the strip turn off. Both kinds usually have plugs on the strip for those devices you might want on all the time, like a digital video recorder (DVR). Others, like the Belkin Conserve Surge, have a desktop timer button that lets you power up electronics at the start of the work day and starts an 11-hour timer. At the end of the day, power is automatically turned off. That might be a good signal that it's time to stop working and go outside to enjoy fresh air and sunlight. Or, the Belkin Conserve Switch, this kind is similar to the one with the master plug, except it has a remote control switch that can be manually controlled to turn off the master electronic. This option is nice when the power strips are hidden from view. I am going to try that one. By the way, I am not endorsing any particular brand, especially when I have not used any of them, just providing some quick options. I would love to hear from you about other brands that you have used and if you like them. While we are the subject, if you have other ways to stop standby power, please let me know by adding a comment to this post.
Let's all take action to stop the Recurrent Current! (not sure, but I may have coined that term)
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