- Fast Fact: Most household electronic gadgets draw power even when you think they are off, such as TVs, computers, cell phones and chargers. This constant “sucking” of power has earned the nickname of “vampire energy”.
Measuring the devices in my own house, I found that my largest offenders were my stereo (14 watts), DVD player (up to 15 watts), and digital TV cable box (16 watts). If these devices are simply plugged into the wall and left in the “off” state, a constant drain of 45 watts results – a little less than the energy required to light a typical light bulb. But, multiply that by the 8,760 hours in a year, and you get a cost of $20 to $40 just to sit there doing nothing useful.
- Fast Fact: a watt is a standard measure of a unit of power, which is a rate of use of energy.
Now imagine on a national level where phantom energy wastes away five to 10 percent of all our electricity. Canada-wide, that amounts to the equivalent of a 1.6 GW power plant (approximately) running constantly 24 hours per day, all year long. At this scale, eliminating phantom power altogether could eliminate the need for the Nanticoke coal power generating station, Canada’s largest single source of air pollution! Located near Toronto, this power station affects the most densely populated area in all of Canada.
- Fast Fact: Coal-fired power plants are considered amongst the worst polluters of any power generation method. The Ontario government has created incentives for renewable power generation to reduce or eliminate the province’s dependence upon coal for electricity.
There are ways we can help reduce our wasted energy:
- Plug devices into a power bar with a master switch so multiple devices can be disconnected all at once (like your TV, cable box, and sound system).
- Some homes have an “all-off” switch which controls all non-essential plugs from a single point, so those unnecessary devices can be switched off when you leave the house or go to bed.
- Look for high energy efficiency ratings and do some research before you buy that new must-have gadget.
- If in doubt, you can always just unplug it from the wall when not in use!
So with a little determination, energy loss can be prevented for a cleaner and cheaper future.
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