
That way, one flick of the power switch button can turn off multiple devices. So you can also set up ways to make the process of cutting phantom load more automatic. If the outlet is inaccessible, it will be hard to keep up.

However, unplugging and replugging in everything can get tedious, especially if your outlets are in hard-to-reach places. Examples could include old wireless phones, old media players or lamps that are more decorative than functional. You might also be surprised how many devices we have plugged in that we don't even use anymore. When you take your device off its charger, it can also help to get into the habit of unplugging that charger as well. It's also generally easy to unplug media players when not in use, like a radio or CD player. One example of devices that could easily be unplugged include TVs and set-top boxes in guest rooms. The first step is, of course, to unplug anything that is not actively in use or not used often.
Turn off the lights youtube how to#
$27 at Amazon How to control standby power The NRDC estimated the cost of always-on devices at up to $165 per household per year on average. It also has environmental benefits, like preventing 44 million metric tons of carbon dioxide pollution. Unplugging it when not in use would save 100 times as much power during the lifetime of the device.Ī study published by the Natural Resources Defense Council (PDF) found that reducing the load from always-on devices would save consumers a total of $8 billion annually and avoid using 64 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. For instance, an educational experiment from Colorado State University found that a combo radio/CD player/tape player used 4 watts continually, whether it was in use or not.

However, how much you save could depend on how many devices you use and your habits with them. Standby power accounts for 5% to 10% of residential energy use, according to the US Department of Energy. Many people are shocked to realize how much standby power can add up. Electricity and money savings from controlling standby power
