Fighting Phantom Load

Some may think that when a television or microwave is turned off that there is no power being used. However, many of our home electronics are haunted by the problem of phantom load. Phantom load, also known as standby power or leaking electricity, refers to the power consumed by electronics while turned off or in standby mode. It is estimated that phantom load costs the average household around $100 per year. That’s money you could save by hunting out the silent energy users in your home.

To identify electronics and appliances that contribute to phantom load, look for items that have a clock or digital display, a remote control, a soft touch keypad, a rechargeable battery, or an external power supply. (An external power supply is a brick or cube-shaped box located somewhere along the power chord.) Items that have some of the largest phantom loads include televisions, VCRs, DVD players, and video game consoles. These appliances have a large phantom load because they are usually in standby mode. Some of the newest video game consoles have been found to have particularly large phantom load levels.

In addition, laptops and cell phone chargers continually have current flowing through the power cord waiting to charge the electronic device (even when the phone or laptop is not attached), and a small amount of energy is lost in the process. And computers in standby or hibernate mode still consume significant amounts of energy, with laptop computers being slightly more efficient than desktops.

Controlling phantom load can add up to savings on your electricity bill. The first step is to identify the major culprits and get in the habit of unplugging them when they are not in use. To make this more convenient, you can plug electronics that consume standby power into a power strip. This will allow you to cut the electricity flowing to multiple appliances simply by flipping the switch on the power strip.

Phantom Facts:

• According to the US Department of Energy, standby power accounts for approximately 75 percent of the electricity consumed by household electronics such as televisions, stereos and computers.

• The Energy Star program estimates that the average American household spends approximately $100 per year to power electronics that are turned off or in “standby” mode.