“Phantom” electricity, that is. And it’s actually spookier than it sounds: “Phantom loads,” or “standby power,” is the slow leaching of electricity from the many appliances than never really turn off.
You know who they are: VCRs and microwaves with eternally-on clocks, computers, cordless phones, TVs . . . they use electricity even when turned off. According to NHDES, a typical home has as many as 12 to 15 appliances on standby power that are consuming electricity 24 hours a day. This comes to about 5 percent of the average total electric bill. The total phantom load of the U.S. could power the countries of Greece, Peru, and Vietnam combined, says the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.
Electricity leaks are easy to plug. First, inspect for electrical devices that have a clock, need a remote control, charge a battery, are plugged into the wall or don’t have an “off” switch.
You could unplug these devices when not in use, but that wouldn’t be convenient. Consider plugging multiple devices into a power strip that can then be turned off. For a single device, plug into a smaller outlet switch, then turn off the switch.
Remember to consider which devices you can afford to lose programming on. An elaborate home entertainment system may not be practical to re-program and your home answering machine would obviously become ineffective, but the microwave, VCR, and cable boxes would be a safe place to start plugging the leak.
Says DES: You can also make a difference by considering the phantom load when purchasing a product. For purchasing devices that are impractical to turn off, consider buying Energy Star products. The Environmental Protection Agency is beginning to include standby power limits in its qualifications for the Energy Star program.
Links:
[1] http://www.greenguidenh.com/content/401/unplug