Gavin Gunter, Contributor
MANY CONSUMERS are aware of some of the more typical conservation measures that can be employed in the home or office environment. However, most persons may not be familiar with the concept of standby power waste. What is that, you may ask?
Virtually every electronic product that is plugged into the wall such as TVs, VCRs, DVDs, washing machines, cellphone chargers, cordless and feature phones, cable TV decoders, satellite TV decoders, night lights, radios, computers, printers, monitors, fax machines, copiers, audio amplifiers, modems etc., require standby power. This means that they consume electricity even when they are not being actively used and yes, even when they are switched 'off'.
Standby power is used for things such as internal clocks and remote control receivers. The problem is, even though these components consume an insignificant amount of energy, the power supply in many of these appliances are inefficient and end up wasting several watts. Appliances that convert A/C to D/C consume a significant amount of standby energy. It is easy to dismiss these losses individually, but the number of offenders lurking around the home can quickly add up. It is estimated that between five to 15 per cent of household electricity consumption worldwide is wasted in standby mode.
WORK AND ENTERTAINMENT
The main appliances that normally remain plugged in are those related to work and entertainment. A TV uses approximately 0-20 watts with an average of 5 watts standby power. A cable box uses approximately 5-25 watts with an average of 10 watts in standby. A DVD player consumes an average of just under 5 watts while a Compact Audio System uses approximately 2-25 watts with an average of 10 watts. The individual amounts vary by the size and make of the appliance. Consider that most of these systems are not actively being used for much of the day and yet still consume while they wait.
The following strategic solutions may be employed. For appliances such as washing machines and component sets that are not used frequently, unplug them after each use. Unplug TV sets and other appliances in guest rooms that are not in use. At a commercial scale, this measure can be quite significant, when for example a company or hotel is closed for long periods for maintenance or renovation etc. When departing for vacations, unplug all unnecessary appliances. This is also a safety measure.
Most persons may find plugging and unplugging all their entertainment systems each day a chore. A compromise may be to plug them into an extension power unit with a manual switch that can be flipped on when you get home. By doing this, you completely cut of the power supply to these appliances when they are not in use. To test if it works, try turning the unit on using the remote. If it does not respond this means it is not consuming in standby mode. Take care not to overload circuits.
These measures can, depending on your consumption pattern and the type of appliances you have, result in significant savings through reduced electricity consumption.
Here are some appliances you can unplug when not in use:
TVs, VCRs, DVDs, radios
Washing machines and dryers
Cellphone chargers, cordless and feature phones,
Cable TV decoders, satellite TV decoders,
Computers, printers, monitors, fax machines, copiers
Night lights.
Gavin Gunter, Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica.
