Stimating Appliance and Home Electronic Energy Use
Content
stimating Appliance and Home Electronic Energy Use August 31, 2012 - 4:23pm
Share on email
Estimate the energy consumption and cost to operate an appliance when making a purchase. Investing in an energy-efficient product may save you money in the long run. | Photo courtesy of iStockphoto.com/wh1600.
If you're trying to decide whether to invest in a more energy-efficient appliance or you'd like to determine your electricity loads, you may want to estimate appliance energy consumption.
FORMULA FOR ESTIMATING ENERGY CONSUMPTION Use this formula to estimate an appliance's energy use:
(Wattage × Hours Used Per Day) ÷ 1000 = Daily Kilowatt-hour (kWh) consumption 1 kilowatt (kW) = 1,000 Watts Multiply this by the number of days you use the appliance during the year for the annual consumption in kWh per year.
ESTIMATING ANNUAL COST TO RUN AN APPLIANCE Multiply the annual consumption in kWh per year (that you calculated above) by your local utility's rate per kWh consumed to calculate the annual cost to run an appliance. Note: To estimate the number of hours that a refrigerator actually operates at its maximum wattage, divide the total time the refrigerator is plugged in by three. Refrigerators, although turned "on" all the time, actually cycle on and off as needed to maintain interior temperatures. EXAMPLES: Window fan: (200 Watts × 4 hours/day × 120 days/year) ÷ 1000 = 96 kWh × 11 cents/kWh = $10.56/year Personal Computer and Monitor: [(120 Watts + 150 Watts) × 4 hours/day × 365 days/year] ÷ 1000 = 394 kWh × 11 cents/kWh = $43.34/year
WATTAGE You can usually find the wattage of most appliances stamped on the bottom or back of the appliance, or on its nameplate. The wattage listed is the maximum power drawn by the appliance. Since many appliances have a range of settings (for example, the volume on a radio), the actual amount of power consumed depends on the setting used at any one time. If the wattage is not listed on the appliance, you can still estimate it by finding the current draw (in amperes) and multiplying that by the voltage used by the appliance. Most appliances in the United States use 120 volts. Larger appliances, such as clothes dryers and electric cooktops, use 240 volts. The amperes might be stamped on the unit in place of the wattage. If not, find a clamp-on ammeter -- an electrician's tool that clamps around one of the two wires on the appliance -- to measure the current flowing through it. You can obtain this type of ammeter in stores that sell electrical and electronic equipment. Take a reading while the device is running; this is the actual amount of current being used at that instant. When measuring the current drawn by a motor, note that the meter will show about three times more current in the first second that the motor starts than when it is running smoothly.
Many appliances continue to draw a small amount of stand-by power when they are switched "off." These "phantom loads" occur in most appliances that use electricity, such as VCRs, televisions, stereos, computers, and kitchen appliances. Most phantom loads will increase the appliance's energy consumption a few watt-hours. These loads can be avoided by unplugging the appliance or using a power strip and using the switch on the power strip to cut all power to the appliance.
TYPICAL WATTAGES OF VARIOUS APPLIANCES Here are some examples of the range of nameplate wattages for various household appliances:
Aquarium = 50–1210 Watts
Clock radio = 10
Coffee maker = 900–1200
Clothes washer = 350–500
Clothes dryer = 1800–5000
Dishwasher = 1200–2400 (using the drying feature greatly increases energy consumption)
Dehumidifier = 785 Electric blanket (Single/Double) = 60 / 100
Fans Ceiling = 65–175 Window = 55–250 Furnace = 750 Whole house = 240–750
Hair dryer = 1200–1875 Heater (portable) = 750–1500
Clothes iron = 1000–1800
Microwave oven = 750–1100
Personal computer CPU - awake / asleep = 120 / 30 or less Monitor - awake / asleep = 150 / 30 or less
Laptop = 50 Radio (stereo) = 70–400
Refrigerator (frost-free, 16 cubic feet) = 725
Televisions (color)
19" = 65–110
27" = 113
36" = 133
53" - 61" Projection = 170
Flat screen = 120
Toaster = 800–1400
Toaster oven = 1225
VCR/DVD = 17–21 / 20–25
Vacuum cleaner = 1000–1440
Water heater (40 gallon) = 4500–5500
Water pump (deep well) = 250–1100
Water bed (with heater, no cover) = 120–380
ips: Appliances July 5, 2012 - 4:22pm
Share on email
This chart shows how much energy a typical appliance uses per year and its corresponding cost based on national averages. For example, a refrigerator uses almost five times the electricity the average television uses.
Appliances account for about 13% of your household's energy costs, with refrigeration, cooking, and laundry at the top of the list. Learn about:
Shopping for Appliances Purchase the most energy-efficient appliances. Kitchen Appliances Use your dishwasher, refrigerator, and other common kitchen appliances efficiently. Laundry Use your washer and dryer efficiently. Smart Appliances Learn about appliances that can automatically shift your use to off-peak hours, saving you money. Home Office and Electronics Select energy-efficient electronics and use them efficiently.
WHAT'S A KILOWATT? When you use electricity to cook a pot of rice for 1 hour, you use 1,000 watt-hours (1,000 Wh) of electricity! One thousand watt-hours equals 1 kWh. Your utility bill usually shows what you are charged for the kilowatt-hours you use. The average residential rate is 11.04 cents/kWh. A typical U.S. household consumes about 11,800 kWh per year, costing an average of $1,297 annually.
LEARN MORE
Estimating Home Electricity Use
Energy-Efficient Computer Use
Tips: Kitchen Appliances April 24, 2012 - 8:34pm
Share on email
®
ENERGY STAR Refrigerators Are Cool! ENERGY STAR-qualified refrigerators are 20% more energy efficient than non-qualified models. Models with top-mounted freezers use 10-25% less energy than sideby-side or bottom-mount units.
You can save energy in your kitchen through more efficient use of your dishwasher, refrigerator and freezer, and other common appliances.
DISHWASHERS Most of the energy used by a dishwasher is for water heating. The EnergyGuide
label estimates how
much power is needed per year to run the appliance and to heat the water based on the yearly cost of natural gas and electric water heating. DISHWASHER WATER-SAVING TIPS Check the manual that came with your dishwasher for the manufacturer's recommendations on water temperature; many have internal heating elements that allow you to set the water heater in your home to a lower temperature (120° F).
Scrape, don't rinse, off large food pieces and bones. Soaking or pre-washing is generally only recommended in cases of burned- or dried-on food.
Be sure your dishwasher is full (not overloaded) when you run it.
Avoid using the "rinse hold" on your machine for just a few soiled dishes. It uses 3-7 gallons of hot water each use.
Let your dishes air dry; if you don't have an automatic air-dry switch, turn off the control knob after the final rinse and prop the door open slightly so the dishes will dry faster.
LONG-TERM SAVINGS TIP When shopping for a new dishwasher, look for the ENERGY STAR label to find one that uses less water and energy than required by federal standards. They are required to use 5.8 gallons of water per cycle or less -- older dishwashers purchased before 1994 use more than 10 gallons of water per cycle.
REFRIGERATORS The EnergyGuide label on new refrigerators tells you how much electricity in kilowatt-hours (kWh) a particular model uses in one year. The smaller the number, the less energy the refrigerator uses and the less it will cost you to operate. In addition to the EnergyGuide label, don't forget to look for the ENERGY STAR label. A new refrigerator with an ENERGY STAR label uses at least 20% less energy than required by current federal standards and 40% less energy than the conventional models sold in 2001. REFRIGERATOR-FREEZER ENERGY TIPS Don't keep your refrigerator or freezer too cold. Recommended temperatures are 37°-40°F for the fresh food compartment and 5° F for the freezer section. If you have a separate freezer for long-term storage, it should be kept at 0° F.
Check the refrigerator temperature by placing an appliance thermometer in a glass of water in the center of the refrigerator. Read it after 24 hours. Check the freezer temperature by placing a thermometer between frozen packages. Read it after 24 hours.
Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight. Test them by closing the door over a piece of paper or a dollar bill so it is half in and half out of the refrigerator. If you can pull the paper or bill out easily, the latch may need adjustment, the seal may need replacing, or you may consider buying a new unit.
Cover liquids and wrap foods stored in the refrigerator. Uncovered foods release moisture and make the compressor work harder.
Regularly defrost manual-defrost freezers and refrigerators; frost buildup decreases the energy efficiency of the unit. Don't allow frost to build up more than one-quarter of an inch.
LONG-TERM SAVINGS TIP Look for the ENERGY STAR label when buying a new refrigerator. Select a new refrigerator that is the right size for your household. Top freezer models are more energy efficient than side-by-side models. Features like icemakers and water dispensers, while convenient, do use more energy.
OTHER ENERGY-SAVING KITCHEN TIPS
Place the faucet lever on the kitchen sink in the cold position when using small amounts of water; placing the lever in the hot position draws hot water even though it may never reach the faucet.
Look for a natural gas oven or range with an automatic, electric ignition system, which saves gas since a pilot light is not burning continuously.
Look for blue flames in natural gas appliances; yellow flames indicate the gas is burning inefficiently and an adjustment may be needed. If you see yellow flames, consult the manufacturer or your local utility.
Keep range-top burners and reflectors clean; they will reflect the heat better, and you will save energy.
Use a covered kettle or pan or electric kettle to boil water; it's faster and uses less energy.
Match the size of the pan to the heating element.
Use small electric pans, toaster ovens, or convection ovens for small meals rather than your large stove or oven. A toaster or convection oven uses one-third to one-half as much energy as a full-sized oven.
LEARN MORE Tips: Appliances Tips: Smart Appliances Tips: Shopping for Appliances Estimating Home Electricity Use
Tips: Home Office and Electronics April 24, 2012 - 6:52pm
Q&A How do you save energy when working at home? ASK US Share on email
»«
1 of 2 Keep Your Home Office Efficient with ENERGY STAR. Laptops are far more efficient than desktop computers, especially ENERGY STAR qualified models.
none
SHOP FOR ENERGY STAR® OFFICE PRODUCTS
Computers
Imaging equipment (copiers, printers, fax machines, scanners)
Monitors and other displays
Many people work from home at least one day per week. Working from home saves energy and time by cutting out the commute, but it may increase your home energy bills unless you use energy-saving office equipment.
ENERGY STAR-labeled office equipment is widely available. It can provide dramatic energy savings—as much as 90% savings for some products. Overall, ENERGY STAR-labeled office products use about half the electricity of standard equipment. Find ENERGY STAR products and standards.
HOME OFFICE TIPS
Selecting energy-efficient office equipment and turning off machines when they are not in use can result in significant energy savings.
Using an ENERGY STAR-labeled computer can save 30%-65% energy than computers without this designation, depending on usage.
Spending a large portion of time in low-power mode not only saves energy but helps equip-ment run cooler and last longer.
Putting your laptop AC adapter on a power strip that can be turned off (or will turn off automatically) can maximize savings; the transformer in the AC adapter draws power con-tinuously, even when the laptop is not plugged into the adapter.
Using the power management settings on computers and monitors can cause significant savings.
It is a common misperception that screen savers reduce a monitor's energy use. Use automatic switching to sleep mode or simply turn it off.
Another misperception, carried over from the days of older mainframe computers, is that equipment lasts longer if it is never turned off.
LONG-TERM SAVINGS TIP Consider buying a laptop for your next computer upgrade; laptops use much less energy than desktop computers.
HOME ELECTRONICS TIPS
Look for energy-saving ENERGY STAR home electronics.
Unplug appliances, or use a power strip and use the switch on the power strip to cut all power to the appliance, to avoid "vampire" loads. Many appliances continue to draw a small amount of power when they are switched off. These vampire loads occur in most appliances that use electricity, such as DVD players, TVs, stereos, computers, and kitchen appliances. Unplug battery chargers when the batteries are fully charged or the chargers are not in use.
Use rechargeable batteries for products like cordless phones and digital cameras. Studies have shown they are more cost effective than disposable batteries. If you must use disposables, check with your trash removal company about safe disposal options.
LEARN MORE
Tips: Appliances
Tips: Shopping for Appliances
Estimating Home Electricity Use
Energy-Efficient Computer Use
Energy-Efficient Computer Use April 24, 2012 - 6:04pm
Share on email
Use sleep mode and power management features on your computer to save money on your energy bill.
WHAT ARE THE KEY FACTS?
Power management features on your computer and monitor can help you save energy.
Turn off your monitor when you won't be using it for at least 20 minutes.
Turn off your computer if you won't be using it for at least 2 hours.
If you wonder when you should turn off your personal computer for energy savings, here are some general guidelines to help you make that decision. Though there is a small surge in energy when a computer starts up, this small amount of energy is still less than the energy used when a computer is running for long periods of time. For energy savings and convenience, consider the following guidelines:
Turn off the monitor if you aren't going to use your PC for more than 20 minutes.
Turn off both the CPU and monitor if you're not going to use your PC for more than 2 hours.
Make sure your monitors, printers, and other accessories are on a power strip/surge protector. When this equipment is not in use for extended periods, turn off the switch on the power strip to prevent them from drawing power even when shut off. If you don't use a power strip, unplug extra equipment when it's not in use. Most PCs reach the end of their "useful" life due to advances in technology long before the effects of being switched on and off multiple times have a negative impact on their service life. The less time a PC is on, the longer it will "last." PCs also produce heat, so turning them off reduces building cooling loads.
SLEEP MODE AND POWER MANAGEMENT FEATURES Many computers available today come with a sleep mode or power management feature. ENERGY STAR® estimates that using these features will save you $50 each year on your electricity bills. Make sure you have the power-down feature set up on your PC through your operating system software. This has to be done by you; the power management features usually are not already enabled when a computer is purchased. Learn how to activate the power management features on your
computer. ENERGY STAR monitors consume 2 watts or less in sleep mode. Follow the instructions for your particular model to ensure power management features are enabled so your monitor will automatically go into sleep mode after a period of inactivity. You can save even more by manually turning off your monitor when you're not using it; ENERGY STAR qualified monitors consume 1 watt or less when off. Note that screen savers are not energy savers. Using a screen saver may in fact use more energy than not using one, and the power-down feature may not work if you have a screen saver activated. In fact, modern LCD color monitors do not need screen savers at all.
LEARN MORE
Tips: Shopping for Appliances Tips: Home Office and Electronics Estimating Home Electricity Use EXTERNAL RESOURCES
Find ENERGY STAR Qualified Computers Find ENERGY STAR Qualified Monitors and Displays Activate Power Management on Your Computer
Share on email
Estimate the energy consumption and cost to operate an appliance when making a purchase. Investing in an energy-efficient product may save you money in the long run. | Photo courtesy of iStockphoto.com/wh1600.
If you're trying to decide whether to invest in a more energy-efficient appliance or you'd like to determine your electricity loads, you may want to estimate appliance energy consumption.
FORMULA FOR ESTIMATING ENERGY CONSUMPTION Use this formula to estimate an appliance's energy use:
(Wattage × Hours Used Per Day) ÷ 1000 = Daily Kilowatt-hour (kWh) consumption 1 kilowatt (kW) = 1,000 Watts Multiply this by the number of days you use the appliance during the year for the annual consumption in kWh per year.
ESTIMATING ANNUAL COST TO RUN AN APPLIANCE Multiply the annual consumption in kWh per year (that you calculated above) by your local utility's rate per kWh consumed to calculate the annual cost to run an appliance. Note: To estimate the number of hours that a refrigerator actually operates at its maximum wattage, divide the total time the refrigerator is plugged in by three. Refrigerators, although turned "on" all the time, actually cycle on and off as needed to maintain interior temperatures. EXAMPLES: Window fan: (200 Watts × 4 hours/day × 120 days/year) ÷ 1000 = 96 kWh × 11 cents/kWh = $10.56/year Personal Computer and Monitor: [(120 Watts + 150 Watts) × 4 hours/day × 365 days/year] ÷ 1000 = 394 kWh × 11 cents/kWh = $43.34/year
WATTAGE You can usually find the wattage of most appliances stamped on the bottom or back of the appliance, or on its nameplate. The wattage listed is the maximum power drawn by the appliance. Since many appliances have a range of settings (for example, the volume on a radio), the actual amount of power consumed depends on the setting used at any one time. If the wattage is not listed on the appliance, you can still estimate it by finding the current draw (in amperes) and multiplying that by the voltage used by the appliance. Most appliances in the United States use 120 volts. Larger appliances, such as clothes dryers and electric cooktops, use 240 volts. The amperes might be stamped on the unit in place of the wattage. If not, find a clamp-on ammeter -- an electrician's tool that clamps around one of the two wires on the appliance -- to measure the current flowing through it. You can obtain this type of ammeter in stores that sell electrical and electronic equipment. Take a reading while the device is running; this is the actual amount of current being used at that instant. When measuring the current drawn by a motor, note that the meter will show about three times more current in the first second that the motor starts than when it is running smoothly.
Many appliances continue to draw a small amount of stand-by power when they are switched "off." These "phantom loads" occur in most appliances that use electricity, such as VCRs, televisions, stereos, computers, and kitchen appliances. Most phantom loads will increase the appliance's energy consumption a few watt-hours. These loads can be avoided by unplugging the appliance or using a power strip and using the switch on the power strip to cut all power to the appliance.
TYPICAL WATTAGES OF VARIOUS APPLIANCES Here are some examples of the range of nameplate wattages for various household appliances:
Aquarium = 50–1210 Watts
Clock radio = 10
Coffee maker = 900–1200
Clothes washer = 350–500
Clothes dryer = 1800–5000
Dishwasher = 1200–2400 (using the drying feature greatly increases energy consumption)
Dehumidifier = 785 Electric blanket (Single/Double) = 60 / 100
Fans Ceiling = 65–175 Window = 55–250 Furnace = 750 Whole house = 240–750
Hair dryer = 1200–1875 Heater (portable) = 750–1500
Clothes iron = 1000–1800
Microwave oven = 750–1100
Personal computer CPU - awake / asleep = 120 / 30 or less Monitor - awake / asleep = 150 / 30 or less
Laptop = 50 Radio (stereo) = 70–400
Refrigerator (frost-free, 16 cubic feet) = 725
Televisions (color)
19" = 65–110
27" = 113
36" = 133
53" - 61" Projection = 170
Flat screen = 120
Toaster = 800–1400
Toaster oven = 1225
VCR/DVD = 17–21 / 20–25
Vacuum cleaner = 1000–1440
Water heater (40 gallon) = 4500–5500
Water pump (deep well) = 250–1100
Water bed (with heater, no cover) = 120–380
ips: Appliances July 5, 2012 - 4:22pm
Share on email
This chart shows how much energy a typical appliance uses per year and its corresponding cost based on national averages. For example, a refrigerator uses almost five times the electricity the average television uses.
Appliances account for about 13% of your household's energy costs, with refrigeration, cooking, and laundry at the top of the list. Learn about:
Shopping for Appliances Purchase the most energy-efficient appliances. Kitchen Appliances Use your dishwasher, refrigerator, and other common kitchen appliances efficiently. Laundry Use your washer and dryer efficiently. Smart Appliances Learn about appliances that can automatically shift your use to off-peak hours, saving you money. Home Office and Electronics Select energy-efficient electronics and use them efficiently.
WHAT'S A KILOWATT? When you use electricity to cook a pot of rice for 1 hour, you use 1,000 watt-hours (1,000 Wh) of electricity! One thousand watt-hours equals 1 kWh. Your utility bill usually shows what you are charged for the kilowatt-hours you use. The average residential rate is 11.04 cents/kWh. A typical U.S. household consumes about 11,800 kWh per year, costing an average of $1,297 annually.
LEARN MORE
Estimating Home Electricity Use
Energy-Efficient Computer Use
Tips: Kitchen Appliances April 24, 2012 - 8:34pm
Share on email
®
ENERGY STAR Refrigerators Are Cool! ENERGY STAR-qualified refrigerators are 20% more energy efficient than non-qualified models. Models with top-mounted freezers use 10-25% less energy than sideby-side or bottom-mount units.
You can save energy in your kitchen through more efficient use of your dishwasher, refrigerator and freezer, and other common appliances.
DISHWASHERS Most of the energy used by a dishwasher is for water heating. The EnergyGuide
label estimates how
much power is needed per year to run the appliance and to heat the water based on the yearly cost of natural gas and electric water heating. DISHWASHER WATER-SAVING TIPS Check the manual that came with your dishwasher for the manufacturer's recommendations on water temperature; many have internal heating elements that allow you to set the water heater in your home to a lower temperature (120° F).
Scrape, don't rinse, off large food pieces and bones. Soaking or pre-washing is generally only recommended in cases of burned- or dried-on food.
Be sure your dishwasher is full (not overloaded) when you run it.
Avoid using the "rinse hold" on your machine for just a few soiled dishes. It uses 3-7 gallons of hot water each use.
Let your dishes air dry; if you don't have an automatic air-dry switch, turn off the control knob after the final rinse and prop the door open slightly so the dishes will dry faster.
LONG-TERM SAVINGS TIP When shopping for a new dishwasher, look for the ENERGY STAR label to find one that uses less water and energy than required by federal standards. They are required to use 5.8 gallons of water per cycle or less -- older dishwashers purchased before 1994 use more than 10 gallons of water per cycle.
REFRIGERATORS The EnergyGuide label on new refrigerators tells you how much electricity in kilowatt-hours (kWh) a particular model uses in one year. The smaller the number, the less energy the refrigerator uses and the less it will cost you to operate. In addition to the EnergyGuide label, don't forget to look for the ENERGY STAR label. A new refrigerator with an ENERGY STAR label uses at least 20% less energy than required by current federal standards and 40% less energy than the conventional models sold in 2001. REFRIGERATOR-FREEZER ENERGY TIPS Don't keep your refrigerator or freezer too cold. Recommended temperatures are 37°-40°F for the fresh food compartment and 5° F for the freezer section. If you have a separate freezer for long-term storage, it should be kept at 0° F.
Check the refrigerator temperature by placing an appliance thermometer in a glass of water in the center of the refrigerator. Read it after 24 hours. Check the freezer temperature by placing a thermometer between frozen packages. Read it after 24 hours.
Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight. Test them by closing the door over a piece of paper or a dollar bill so it is half in and half out of the refrigerator. If you can pull the paper or bill out easily, the latch may need adjustment, the seal may need replacing, or you may consider buying a new unit.
Cover liquids and wrap foods stored in the refrigerator. Uncovered foods release moisture and make the compressor work harder.
Regularly defrost manual-defrost freezers and refrigerators; frost buildup decreases the energy efficiency of the unit. Don't allow frost to build up more than one-quarter of an inch.
LONG-TERM SAVINGS TIP Look for the ENERGY STAR label when buying a new refrigerator. Select a new refrigerator that is the right size for your household. Top freezer models are more energy efficient than side-by-side models. Features like icemakers and water dispensers, while convenient, do use more energy.
OTHER ENERGY-SAVING KITCHEN TIPS
Place the faucet lever on the kitchen sink in the cold position when using small amounts of water; placing the lever in the hot position draws hot water even though it may never reach the faucet.
Look for a natural gas oven or range with an automatic, electric ignition system, which saves gas since a pilot light is not burning continuously.
Look for blue flames in natural gas appliances; yellow flames indicate the gas is burning inefficiently and an adjustment may be needed. If you see yellow flames, consult the manufacturer or your local utility.
Keep range-top burners and reflectors clean; they will reflect the heat better, and you will save energy.
Use a covered kettle or pan or electric kettle to boil water; it's faster and uses less energy.
Match the size of the pan to the heating element.
Use small electric pans, toaster ovens, or convection ovens for small meals rather than your large stove or oven. A toaster or convection oven uses one-third to one-half as much energy as a full-sized oven.
LEARN MORE Tips: Appliances Tips: Smart Appliances Tips: Shopping for Appliances Estimating Home Electricity Use
Tips: Home Office and Electronics April 24, 2012 - 6:52pm
Q&A How do you save energy when working at home? ASK US Share on email
»«
1 of 2 Keep Your Home Office Efficient with ENERGY STAR. Laptops are far more efficient than desktop computers, especially ENERGY STAR qualified models.
none
SHOP FOR ENERGY STAR® OFFICE PRODUCTS
Computers
Imaging equipment (copiers, printers, fax machines, scanners)
Monitors and other displays
Many people work from home at least one day per week. Working from home saves energy and time by cutting out the commute, but it may increase your home energy bills unless you use energy-saving office equipment.
ENERGY STAR-labeled office equipment is widely available. It can provide dramatic energy savings—as much as 90% savings for some products. Overall, ENERGY STAR-labeled office products use about half the electricity of standard equipment. Find ENERGY STAR products and standards.
HOME OFFICE TIPS
Selecting energy-efficient office equipment and turning off machines when they are not in use can result in significant energy savings.
Using an ENERGY STAR-labeled computer can save 30%-65% energy than computers without this designation, depending on usage.
Spending a large portion of time in low-power mode not only saves energy but helps equip-ment run cooler and last longer.
Putting your laptop AC adapter on a power strip that can be turned off (or will turn off automatically) can maximize savings; the transformer in the AC adapter draws power con-tinuously, even when the laptop is not plugged into the adapter.
Using the power management settings on computers and monitors can cause significant savings.
It is a common misperception that screen savers reduce a monitor's energy use. Use automatic switching to sleep mode or simply turn it off.
Another misperception, carried over from the days of older mainframe computers, is that equipment lasts longer if it is never turned off.
LONG-TERM SAVINGS TIP Consider buying a laptop for your next computer upgrade; laptops use much less energy than desktop computers.
HOME ELECTRONICS TIPS
Look for energy-saving ENERGY STAR home electronics.
Unplug appliances, or use a power strip and use the switch on the power strip to cut all power to the appliance, to avoid "vampire" loads. Many appliances continue to draw a small amount of power when they are switched off. These vampire loads occur in most appliances that use electricity, such as DVD players, TVs, stereos, computers, and kitchen appliances. Unplug battery chargers when the batteries are fully charged or the chargers are not in use.
Use rechargeable batteries for products like cordless phones and digital cameras. Studies have shown they are more cost effective than disposable batteries. If you must use disposables, check with your trash removal company about safe disposal options.
LEARN MORE
Tips: Appliances
Tips: Shopping for Appliances
Estimating Home Electricity Use
Energy-Efficient Computer Use
Energy-Efficient Computer Use April 24, 2012 - 6:04pm
Share on email
Use sleep mode and power management features on your computer to save money on your energy bill.
WHAT ARE THE KEY FACTS?
Power management features on your computer and monitor can help you save energy.
Turn off your monitor when you won't be using it for at least 20 minutes.
Turn off your computer if you won't be using it for at least 2 hours.
If you wonder when you should turn off your personal computer for energy savings, here are some general guidelines to help you make that decision. Though there is a small surge in energy when a computer starts up, this small amount of energy is still less than the energy used when a computer is running for long periods of time. For energy savings and convenience, consider the following guidelines:
Turn off the monitor if you aren't going to use your PC for more than 20 minutes.
Turn off both the CPU and monitor if you're not going to use your PC for more than 2 hours.
Make sure your monitors, printers, and other accessories are on a power strip/surge protector. When this equipment is not in use for extended periods, turn off the switch on the power strip to prevent them from drawing power even when shut off. If you don't use a power strip, unplug extra equipment when it's not in use. Most PCs reach the end of their "useful" life due to advances in technology long before the effects of being switched on and off multiple times have a negative impact on their service life. The less time a PC is on, the longer it will "last." PCs also produce heat, so turning them off reduces building cooling loads.
SLEEP MODE AND POWER MANAGEMENT FEATURES Many computers available today come with a sleep mode or power management feature. ENERGY STAR® estimates that using these features will save you $50 each year on your electricity bills. Make sure you have the power-down feature set up on your PC through your operating system software. This has to be done by you; the power management features usually are not already enabled when a computer is purchased. Learn how to activate the power management features on your
computer. ENERGY STAR monitors consume 2 watts or less in sleep mode. Follow the instructions for your particular model to ensure power management features are enabled so your monitor will automatically go into sleep mode after a period of inactivity. You can save even more by manually turning off your monitor when you're not using it; ENERGY STAR qualified monitors consume 1 watt or less when off. Note that screen savers are not energy savers. Using a screen saver may in fact use more energy than not using one, and the power-down feature may not work if you have a screen saver activated. In fact, modern LCD color monitors do not need screen savers at all.
LEARN MORE
Tips: Shopping for Appliances Tips: Home Office and Electronics Estimating Home Electricity Use EXTERNAL RESOURCES
Find ENERGY STAR Qualified Computers Find ENERGY STAR Qualified Monitors and Displays Activate Power Management on Your Computer
