![]() ![]() If you plug your devices into a power strip, you can cut off power to all of them in one fell swoop (of your finger). While forgetful folks like me work on making unplugging a habit, there are ways you can make it easier. But let's be real-I'm as guilty as anyone of not always unplugging unused "wall wart" chargers. All you have to do is unplug your empty chargers, after all. (Image: GOOD)įortunately, energy vampires are easier to defeat than the mythological sort. Vampire energy in annual energy use and cost. That equates to at least $4 billion paid for wasted energy every year: who knew a vampire bite could be so expensive? These numbers by themselves constitute a trickle, but when multiplied by the dozens of idle or "off" devices in millions of American households, these sneaky energy vampires are responsible for an estimated 10 percent of residential energy use. ![]() According to the Berkeley Lab's testing, cell phone chargers in no load mode consume around 0.26 watts, and laptop chargers, 4.42 watts. Feel the heat? That's wasted electricity-technically, it's called "no load mode," but in reality it's just another vampire. Clasp your hands around one that's been plugged in for a while. Leaving an empty charger plugged in has a similar effect. ![]() The short answer is that plugged in is probably better, but there's a full discussion here.) (Now are you wondering whether or not you should work with it plugged in? That's a whole other question, and a surprisingly complicated one. If you left it plugged in all year, it would consume as much electricity as running your coffeemaker for 12 days straight. Even worse is a charged laptop that's still plugged in, which consumes 29.48 watts, 66 percent of the 44.28 watts consumed while charging. A fully charged cell phone plugged into the wall is consuming about 2.24 watts, or 60 percent of the power it consumed while charging. ![]() Their Standby Power Summary Table shows that almost all the electronics we use consume electricity even when off or idle, and even when fully charged. You could walk around your house with a wattmeter to investigate your fully powered appliances, but luckily the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has already done just that for you. You first ask about the energy consumption of a device left plugged in after it has been fully charged. Since you're asking about two specific instances, I'll address those first and then broaden the discussion in the Nitty Gritty. Beyond computers, vampire energy consumption can be traced back to a bewildering number of sources, many of which we've just mentioned. What's to be done?įor starters, rest assured that you're alone in neither victimhood nor curiosity- the very first SAGE column tackled a question about the energy use of computers in standby mode. Even when turned off or in standby mode, these energy vampires continue to feed on the lifeblood of your electricity. The small rechargeable appliances you mention are all guilty of wasting watts, as are other common household electronics like computers, televisions and microwaves. Not the bloodthirsty sort from Twilight, but energy vampires: appliances that silently suck electricity from your wall outlets and discreetly inflate your power bill. Q: Regarding small, rechargeable appliances-such as cell phones, toothbrushes, cameras, etc: How much energy is consumed when the unit remains plugged into its charger after it has completed charging to 100-percent capacity? Also, does the charger (with no unit attached) consume energy if it remains plugged into the wall outlet?Īsked by Cecilia Lam, '86, Scottsdale, Ariz.īelieve it or not, there are vampires lurking in your house at this very moment. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |