Standby Energy Wastage

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, about 10% to 15% of the energy load of a state is consumed by standby power. This wastage takes place through many electronic devices in your home that are always on, even when you think they're off. These "miscellaneous" devices include computers, digital video recorders, power tools and chargers for cellphones--which drain even when not charging. Some of these adapters can draw as much as 5 to 20 times more energy in standby mode that is actually stored in the battery. Most stay plugged 24 hours 7 days for their entire lifetime.

For example, computers are a huge standby drain. Traditional computers average 35.5 watts in standby, while laptops average 16.5 watts. Screen savers actually make things worse, using 28% more power than normal. Other large standby drainers include ink jet printers, which can use from three to 20 watts, and mini-stereos, which can consume from one to 25 watts.

In June 2001 President Bush required the government to purchase appliances, and chargers, that used the least standby power. At the time, the White House estimated the U.S. could save from $1 billion to 2 billion in energy bills if standby settings used one watt or less. The EPA estimates that there are 1 billion chargers in the U.S. and predicts that number will grow. In January, Energy Star began a major campaign to make chargers at least 35% more efficient. By doing this, the EPA believes it can save more than 1 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, equal to that generated by 150,000 cars.