About Electronics

Over the last twenty five years, the number of consumer electronic devices in the average American household has increased substantially.  With each new year, more innovations hit the marketplace.  PC's, DVD players, satellite receivers have all found they way into our homes in the last 15 years. 

These devices, which are designed to increase your productivity or provide entertainment, consume electricity whenever they are turned on.  As would be a surprise to many people, these devices also consume power when they are turned off.  When power is consumed by a device that is turned off, this consumption is known as a "phantom load"

As shown below, TV's, cable boxes, and satellite receivers have significant phantom loads.  Over a year's time, the costs of keeping these items plugged in but turned off becomes substantial. 

For example, if you own a 32" color television is plugged into an outlet but is not turned on for an entire year, it will still consume 149 kilowatt-hours per year.  If your electric utility charges you $0.08 per kilowatt-hour, that "turned-off" set will have cost an extra $12 on your power bill.  

Next:  Energy Savings Opportunities - Low Cost

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