Electricity is the most important form of energy available today. It is used to run practically all equipment in homes and offices. It is surprising yet true that even when we think, we are not consuming electricity we are still consuming it. The "stand by mode" is a big time culprit.
Do I Waste Electric Energy?
Electrical energy is a precious resource and anyone with even a basic understanding of the processes of power generation and distribution will know that it is certainly a fact. Still most of us do not realize the importance of energy conservation. Find out how people waste energy and the best methods of reducing this message by reading this article dealing with the confessions of an energy waster.
Confessions of an Energy Waster
If I’m asked the question, am I an energy waster, my answer in the first go would be a very firm, "No, I do not. I make sure to switch off the lights, the fan, and the air conditioner when I move out of a room. I am an environmentally conscious person and am concerned about global warming."
However, on introspection I would have second thoughts. Let me ask a few more questions of myself to find out the truth:
Do I leave the television or the set-top box in stand by mode?
Well yes, I do leave both the above on stand by mode. In addition to the above I also leave my laptop and the radio on the stand by mode. This is because it is so convenient for me, I don’t have to wait for the device to warm up and start. It saves so much of my time.
Do I leave plugs in sockets even when the device is not in use and switches in the "on" mode?
Once again, yes, I do leave the plugs in the socket and I leave the socket switch on. My mobile phone charger stays plugged in even when I’m not charging my mobile. My electric tooth brush also remains plugged in. The switch on the board may be on, but I’m not using the device.
Do I need to ask myself further questions? I don’t think so. I should accept the fact that I am an energy waster and my previous claim stands refuted.
Let us look at some facts and try to understand why the answers to the above questions make me an energy waster.
Stand by Mode
The stand by mode is that state of an electronic device where it is between fully off and fully on. The device according to us is switched off, but in reality, it is not. It consumes energy to maintain itself on the stand by mode. It can be said that the device is in a state where it is ready to be switched on; it is waiting for a command from the remote control. To continuously search for the remote, it consumes power. T.V. sets, computer systems, cordless telephones are some of the devices which have the standby mode. To actually switch it off, the plug should be removed from the socket. In the stand by mode, it wastes energy.
The problem with the standby mode is not that the devices consume too much electricity, the problem is that there are too many devices that are consuming electricity on the standby mode. As per reports of the IEA (International Energy Association) in a typical European, Japanese, Australian and North American home, an average of twenty devices are continuously on in stand by mode. As per the same reports “Standby power is responsible for 5-10% of total electricity use in most homes and an unknown amount in commercial buildings and factories. Standby power is responsible for roughly 1% of global carbon dioxide emissions.”
This energy is also referred to by several other names such as vampire power, parasitic power, leaking electricity, and so on
Switches in the "On" Mode
I have already confessed that I leave the switches on. My argument to assert that I am not an energy waster is that there is no device that is plugged in, as a result no energy is being consumed. Agreed, but the reason why I am wrong here is very simple to understand. When do some devices, like lights, toasters, and electric heaters, draw energy? When the switch is put "On." Until I put the switch on, it does not draw energy.
What can I Do?
Now, that I have understood the problem and where I am going wrong, let us concentrate on the solutions. What I need to do is just to change a few habits and be a little less careless to begin with. Just some small actions can make stop wasting energy:
* Avoid leaving electronic devices on the stand by mode. Unplug them or use a power switch to disable them.
* Don't leave lights, heaters, and other electrical appliances on when not being used.
Do this, and soon you will be saying, "Yes, I contribute towards reducing electrical consumption and global warming, just by being a smart consumer and controlling my use of stand by power and parasitic loads in the home and by not powering lights and appliances unless I want to immediately use them"
