Appliance Standby Power: How to Eliminate Waste

The rising cost of energy is pushing us to find solutions to save on our utility bills. However, we often overlook a crucial aspect: the standby power consumption of appliances. Even when they seem to be off, many devices continue to draw power, impacting both our consumption and the environment. In this article, we’ll explore what standby is, how much it affects your bill, and how to eliminate waste with simple tips, like turning off appliances or using  power strips with switches.

What Is Standby and How Does It Work

Standby, or “sleep mode,” is a state where an appliance seems to be off but is actually ready to reactivate quickly. This means some components remain active, consuming energy. Think of your TV: even when turned off with the remote, the little red light stays on, indicating it’s in standby and ready to receive the signal to turn on.

Which appliances consume power in standby? Virtually all those with a display, a receiver, or a timer, such as:

• Televisions
• Decoders/Set-top boxes
• DVD/Blu-ray players
• Microwave ovens
• Computers
• Monitors
• Printers
• Video game consoles
• Hi-Fi systems

How Much Power Do Appliances Consume in Standby?

Standby power consumption varies depending on the type of appliance, its model, and its age. In general, it’s estimated that each device consumes 1 to 4 watts per hour in standby. This may not seem like much, but when multiplied by the number of appliances in your home and the hours they remain unused, the consumption becomes significant.

According to ENEA (the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development), the average annual standby consumption for a household can reach 100 kWh, with a cost on the bill that can exceed $50.

To give you a clearer idea, here is a table with the average standby consumption of some appliances:

Appliance	Average standby consumption (watts/hour)
Television	2-3
Decoder/Set-top box	1-2
Computer	2-5
Monitor	1-2
Microwave oven	2-3
Printer	1-3

How to Eliminate Standby Power Consumption

There are several solutions to eliminate or reduce standby power consumption:

• Turn off appliances completely:  The most effective way is to turn off devices using their power button or, even better, unplug them when not in use for long periods.
• Use power strips with switches: Power strips with switches allow you to cut power to multiple devices at once with a single flick. They are especially useful for devices connected to your TV (decoder, console, DVD player) or for your Hi-Fi system.
• Unplug them: For appliances we don’t use frequently, like the microwave or printer, unplugging them is the most drastic but also the most effective solution.
• Set up power-saving options: Many modern devices, like computers and TVs, offer power-saving options that allow you to reduce standby consumption or automatically turn the device off after a period of inactivity.

Benefits of Eliminating Standby Power

Eliminating standby power consumption offers numerous benefits:

• Financial savings: Reducing standby power translates to direct savings on your utility bill.
• Reduced environmental impact: Less consumption means fewer CO2 emissions and a smaller environmental footprint.
• Greater home safety:  Unplugging appliances when not in use reduces the risk of fires or short circuits.
• Longer appliance lifespan:  Avoiding component overheating helps extend the life of your devices.

Power Strips with Switches: Types and Features

There are several types of power strips with switches on the market:

• Standard power strips: These are the simplest and most affordable, equipped with a master switch to turn all connected devices on or off.
• Surge protectors:  They protect your devices from potential power surges, preventing damage to electronic components.
• Timer power strips: They allow you to schedule the automatic turning on and off of connected devices.
• “Smart” power strips: Controllable remotely via smartphone or voice assistants, they let you manage power to your appliances even from a distance.

When choosing a power strip, it’s important to consider the number of outlets needed, the cord length, the presence of additional protections, and the type of switch.

Other Tips for Saving Energy at Home

Besides eliminating standby power, there are other steps we can take to reduce energy consumption at home:

• Choose high-efficiency appliances:  Opting for ENERGY STAR certified appliances ensures lower consumption during use.
• Use LED bulbs: LED bulbs consume up to 80% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs.
• Optimize appliance use:  Running the washing machine and dishwasher with full loads, avoiding opening the oven while cooking, and regularly defrosting the refrigerator are just a few examples of good practices for saving energy.
• Insulate your home:  Improving the thermal insulation of walls, windows, and the roof helps reduce heat loss, thus lowering heating and cooling costs.

Conclusion

Reducing standby power consumption is a small act that can make a big difference, both for our wallets and for the environment.  Turning off appliances when not in use, using power strips with switches, and adopting mindful energy consumption habits are simple yet effective actions to contribute to a more sustainable future.

If you want to save even more on your energy bill, check out the electricity and gas offers from TuttoSemplice.com. Request a free, personalized quote today!

Frequently Asked Questions

<!– wp:yoast-seo/faq-block {"questions":[{"id":"faq-question-1730906699657","question":[{"type":"strong","props":{"children":["Cosa significa standby killer?"]}}," "],"answer":[{"type":"em","props":{"children":["Standby killer"]}}," è un termine usato per indicare gli elettrodomestici che consumano molta energia in standby, come vecchi televisori, decoder e console per videogiochi."],"jsonQuestion":"What does ‘standby killer’ mean? “,”jsonAnswer”:”‘Standby killer’ is a term used to describe appliances that consume a lot of energy in standby mode, such as old TVs, decoders, and video game consoles.”},{“id”:”faq-question-1730906708863″,”question”:[{“type”:”strong”,”props”:{“children”:[“Quanto consuma un forno a microonde in standby?”]}}],”answer”:[“Un forno a microonde consuma in media 2-3 watt all’ora in standby.”],”jsonQuestion”:”How much power does a microwave consume in standby?“,”jsonAnswer”:”A microwave oven consumes an average of 2-3 watts per hour in standby.”},{“id”:”faq-question-1730906716984″,”question”:[{“type”:”strong”,”props”:{“children”:[“È pericoloso lasciare gli elettrodomestici in standby?”]}}],”answer”:[“Lasciare gli elettrodomestici in standby non è di per sé pericoloso, ma può aumentare il rischio di incendi o cortocircuiti in caso di malfunzionamenti.”],”jsonQuestion”:”Is it dangerous to leave appliances in standby?“,”jsonAnswer”:”Leaving appliances in standby is not inherently dangerous, but it can increase the risk of fires or short circuits in case of malfunctions.”},{“id”:”faq-question-1730906729575″,”question”:[{“type”:”strong”,”props”:{“children”:[“È vero che alcuni elettrodomestici consumano più energia in standby che durante l’utilizzo?”]}}],”answer”:[“Sì, alcuni elettrodomestici, come i decoder e le console per videogiochi, possono consumare più energia in standby che durante l’utilizzo. Questo perché in standby mantengono attive diverse funzioni, come la connessione a internet o la ricezione del segnale.”],”jsonQuestion”:”Is it true that some appliances consume more energy in standby than when in use?“,”jsonAnswer”:”Yes, some appliances, like decoders and video game consoles, can consume more energy in standby than when in use. This is because they keep several functions active in standby, such as an internet connection or signal reception.”},{“id”:”faq-question-1730906735247″,”question”:[{“type”:”strong”,”props”:{“children”:[“Come posso ridurre il consumo in standby del mio computer?”]}}],”answer”:[“Per ridurre il consumo in standby del computer, è possibile impostare le opzioni di risparmio energetico, spegnere il monitor quando non viene utilizzato e disattivare la connessione Wi-Fi.”],”jsonQuestion”:”How can I reduce my computer’s standby power consumption?“,”jsonAnswer”:”To reduce your computer’s standby power consumption, you can configure its power-saving options, turn off the monitor when not in use, and disable the Wi-Fi connection.”},{“id”:”faq-question-1730906746926″,”question”:[{“type”:”strong”,”props”:{“children”:[“Le ciabatte con interruttore consumano energia?”]}}],”answer”:[“Le ciabatte con interruttore consumano una quantità minima di energia anche quando l’interruttore è spento, ma questo consumo è trascurabile rispetto a quello degli elettrodomestici in standby.”],”jsonQuestion”:”Do power strips with switches consume energy?“,”jsonAnswer”:”Power strips with switches consume a minimal amount of energy even when the switch is off, but this consumption is negligible compared to that of appliances in standby.”},{“id”:”faq-question-1730906776984″,”question”:[{“type”:”strong”,”props”:{“children”:[“La TV consuma in standby anche se spenta dal telecomando?”]}}],”answer”:[“Sì, la TV consuma in standby anche se spenta dal telecomando. Per eliminarlo è necessario spegnerla dal pulsante di accensione o staccare la spina.”],”jsonQuestion”:”Does the TV consume power in standby even when turned off with the remote?“,”jsonAnswer”:”Yes, the TV consumes power in standby even when turned off with the remote. To eliminate it, you need to turn it off with the power button or unplug it.”},{“id”:”faq-question-1730906796602″,”question”:[{“type”:”strong”,”props”:{“children”:[“Il computer consuma in standby?”]}}],”answer”:[“Sì, il computer consuma in standby, anche se in misura minore rispetto a quando è acceso. È possibile ridurre i consumi impostando le opzioni di risparmio energetico o spegnendolo completamente quando non viene utilizzato.”],”jsonQuestion”:”Does a computer consume power in standby?“,”jsonAnswer”:”Yes, a computer consumes power in standby, although less than when it’s on. You can reduce consumption by setting power-saving options or turning it off completely when not in use.”},{“id”:”faq-question-1730906818015″,”question”:[{“type”:”strong”,”props”:{“children”:[“Come faccio a sapere se un elettrodomestico è in standby?”]}}],”answer”:[“In genere, gli elettrodomestici in standby presentano una spia luminosa accesa (rossa o verde) o un display che mostra l’ora o altre informazioni.”],”jsonQuestion”:”How do I know if an appliance is in standby?“,”jsonAnswer”:”Generally, appliances in standby have an indicator light on (red or green) or a display showing the time or other information.”}]} –>