Standby power: what devices cost while switched "off"
Many devices keep drawing a little power while idle: clocks, remote-ready receivers, chargers and set-top boxes. Each is small, but they run all day, every day.
Worked example
A device that draws 5 W in standby uses 5 W x 24 h x 30 days = 3.6 kWh a month, about $0.61. Ten such devices cost about $6.12 a month, roughly $73 a year. Check the standby rating in each product manual for the real figure.
Ways to reduce it
- Plug rarely used devices into a switched power strip
- Unplug devices when you will be away for a long time
- Audit what is always plugged in: microwaves, chargers, game consoles, set-top boxes
- Prefer products with a low labelled standby draw
Cautions
- Do not switch off devices that must stay on, such as a refrigerator, router or security equipment.
- Some devices take longer to restart or lose schedules when fully powered down.