Lots of sources will tell you that there are huge energy losses when electrical items are on standby. I have heard it quoted that items (e.g. TVs) on standby use 1/3 of the energy of full operation. The UK government is reported to be about to legislate to remove the standby facility in future.
Here are the facts. My family averages 17.75 KWh per day according to my latest ESB bill. My TV (Pioneer 43") consumes 287w in full operation, and 0.4w in standby. If we assume 21hrs standby each day, then the equation for a 24hour period becomes:-
And standby represents .047 of 1% of the family's usage of electricity. In other words, I would have to have 21 similar devices on before standby would consume 1% of the family's usage.
If we expressed standby as a percentage of the total family usage of energy (heating oil, petrol, electricity) then standby is an even smaller percentage.
And what behaviour change would the removal of standby induce? I believe that we might leave the TV on for a minute or two more on average, since we have to get up from the couch to turn it off. Two minutes of extra TV would result in an overall higher energy usage.
I have checked other devices in the house, and the results are similar.
Someone in authority needs to get the facts straight.
Here are the facts. My family averages 17.75 KWh per day according to my latest ESB bill. My TV (Pioneer 43") consumes 287w in full operation, and 0.4w in standby. If we assume 21hrs standby each day, then the equation for a 24hour period becomes:-
21 x 0.4 = 8.4w in standby
3 x 287 = 861w in operation
So standby represents less than 1% of the energy used by the TV.3 x 287 = 861w in operation
And standby represents .047 of 1% of the family's usage of electricity. In other words, I would have to have 21 similar devices on before standby would consume 1% of the family's usage.
If we expressed standby as a percentage of the total family usage of energy (heating oil, petrol, electricity) then standby is an even smaller percentage.
And what behaviour change would the removal of standby induce? I believe that we might leave the TV on for a minute or two more on average, since we have to get up from the couch to turn it off. Two minutes of extra TV would result in an overall higher energy usage.
I have checked other devices in the house, and the results are similar.
Someone in authority needs to get the facts straight.