Thrifty Tip : Phantom Power

No need to call the Ghostbusters, but "Phantom Power" is a rather insidious fellow who loves to put a drain on your wallet.  Check this out, then go phantom hunting.  


Take special note of the costs for computers... a desktop computer and CRT monitor, left on 24/7, will cost you about $7.71 per month.  How many computers do you have running?

How can I reduce standby power use in my home?

• If you aren't frequently using a device, unplug it. Warning, don't frequently unplug and plug in appliances because you could get electrocuted from frayed wires and plugs.
• Use a switchable power strip for clusters of computer or video products. That way you can switch everything to zero with one action.  Warning, some electronics like computers and printers need to be properly turned off in order to shut down correctly.  Power down, THEN flick the switch.
• When shopping, search for low standby products.  ENERGY STAR products have lower standby.
• Buy a low-cost watt-meter, measure the devices in your home and take targeted action. You will certainly be surprised at what you discover and this exercise might even pay back the cost of the meter in savings. 

Limited research suggests that an informed and aggressive approach can reduce standby use by about 30%.

Here's an easy conversion factor for the following table: if a device draws 1 watt constantly for a year, then its energy consumption was 9 kWh.  Multiply the number of watts by 9 to get an item's annual power consumption, then that number by your current power rate to get an approximate idea of how much a given appliance or electronic item is costing you.


This table is borrowed from here:  http://standby.lbl.gov/summary-table.html.   I have modified it by adding the last column "cost" which is the Average (W) column multiplied by our January power rate of 7.4 cents per kWh, giving the total approximated cost for running the given item steady for a year (divide by 8765 if you want a cost-per-hour).   This is per unit, so for example landscape lighting on the list refers to each individual lamp.  Some of the numbers are miniscule, of course, but it all adds up.  And take note of the cost of running your computer 24/7, in particular.

Product/Mode	Average (W)	Min (W)	Max (W)	COST
Air Conditioner, room/wall
Off	0.9	0.9	0.9	$0.59
Charger, mobile phone
On, charged	2.24	0.75	4.11	$1.49
On, charging	3.68	0.27	7.5	$2.45
Power supply only	0.26	0.02	1	$0.17
Clock, radio
On	2.01	0.97	7.6	$1.34
Computer Display, CRT
Off	0.8	0	2.99	$0.53
On	65.1	34.54	124.78	$43.36
Sleep	12.14	1.6	74.5	$8.08
Computer Display, LCD
Off	1.13	0.31	3.5	$0.75
On	27.61	1.9	55.48	$18.34
Sleep	1.38	0.37	7.8	$0.92
Computer, desktop
On, idle	73.97	27.5	180.83	$49.26
Off	2.84	0	9.21	$1.89
Sleep	21.13	1.1	83.3	$14.07
Computer, notebook
Fully on, charged	29.48	14.95	73.1	$19.64
Fully on, charging	44.28	27.38	66.9	$29.49
Off	8.9	0.47	50	$5.93
Power supply only	4.42	0.15	26.4	$2.94
Sleep	15.77	0.82	54.8	$10.50
Fax, inkjet
Off	5.31	0	8.72	$3.54
On	6.22	2.89	14	$4.14
Fax, laser
Off	0	0	0	0
On	6.1	6.1	6.1	$4.06
Ready	6.42	6.42	6.42	$4.27
Heating, furnace central
Off	4.21	0	9.8	$2.80
On	339.71	70.5	796	$226.25
Hub, USB
Off	1.44	0.95	1.81	$0.96
On	2.06	1.06	3.55	$1.37
Modem, DSL
Off	1.37	0.33	2.02	$1.31
On	5.37	3.38	8.22	$3.58
Modem, cable
Off	3.84	1.57	6.62	$2.56
On	6.25	3.64	8.62	$4.16
Standby	3.85	3.59	4.11	$2.56
Multi-function Device, inkjet
Off	5.26	0	10.03	$3.50
On	9.16	3.9	17.7	$6.10
Multi-function Device, laser
Off	3.12	0	4.7	$2.08
On	49.68	5	175	$33.09
Night Light, interior
Off	0.05	0	0.34	$0.03
On	4.47	0	27.97	$2.98
Ready	0.22	0	1.2	$0.15
Phone, cordless
Ready, handset	2.81	1.05	4.89	$1.87
Ready, no handset	1.58	0.59	3.09	$1.05
Active (talking)	1.9	0.59	3.38	$1.26
Off	0.98	0.54	1.8	$0.65
Phone, cordless with answering machine
Ready, handset	4	2.15	7.4	$2.66
Ready, no handset	2.82	1.72	4.7	$1.88
Active (talking)	3.53	2.2	6.5	$2.35
Off	2.92	0.9	7.4	$1.94
Power Tool, cordless
Ready, charged	8.34	1.82	14	$5.55
Active	29.53	1.39	66	$19.67
Ready	1.74	0	4.7	$1.16
Printer, inkjet
Off	1.26	0	4	$0.84
On	4.93	1.81	22	$3.28
Printer, laser
Off	1.58	0	4.5	$1.05
On	131.07	1.7	481.9	$87.29
Range, gas
Ready	1.13	0.7	1.7	$0.75
Scanner, flatbed
Off	2.48	0.27	8.2	$1.65
On	9.6	1.71	15.6	$6.39
Security Systems, home
Ready	2.7	2.7	2.7	$1.80
Set-top Box, DVR
On, no recording	37.64	25.95	49.2	$25.07
On, recording	29.29	27.27	31.3	$19.51
Off	36.68	23.3	48.6	$24.43
Set-top Box, digital cable with DVR
Not recording, TV off	44.63	44.38	44.87	$29.72
Not recording, TV on	44.4	44.2	44.6	$29.57
Off by remote	43.46	43.3	43.61	$28.94
Set-top Box, digital cable
On, TV off	24.65	14.2	74.74	$16.42
On, TV on	29.64	14.1	102.23	$19.74
Off by remote	17.83	13.24	30.6	$11.87
Off by switch	17.5	13.7	26.3	$11.65
Set-top Box, satellite with DVR
Not recording, TV off	28.35	25.8	30.9	$18.88
Not recording, TV on	31.37	24.2	36.3	$20.89
Off by remote	27.8	22	33.6	$18.51
Set-top Box, satellite
On, TV off	15.95	7.69	33.2	$10.62
On, TV on	16.15	7.69	33.2	$10.76
Off by remote	15.66	6.58	33.05	$10.43
Off by switch	15.47	6.58	32.7	$10.30
Speakers, computer
On, no sound	4.12	0.69	9.84	$2.74
Off	1.79	0	5.6	$1.19
Stereo, portable
CD, not playing	4.11	1.29	6.83	$2.73
Cassette, not playing	2.42	1.16	5.92	$1.61
CD playing	6.8	3.96	9.2	$4.53
Off	1.66	0.7	5.44	$1.10
Radio playing	3.3	1.36	8.25	$2.20
Television, CRT
Off by remote	3.06	0.3	10.34	$2.04
Off by switch	2.88	0	16.1	$1.92
Television, rear projection
On	186.09	186.09	186.09	$123.94
Off by remote	6.97	0.2	48.5	$4.64
Off by switch	6.6	0.2	48.5	$4.39
Timer, irrigation
Off	2.75	1.5	5.9	$1.83
Ready	2.84	1.5	5.9	$1.89
Tuner, AM/FM
On, not playing	9.48	5.08	16.4	$6.32
On, playing	9.92	5.07	17.7	$6.60
Off	1.12	0	3.37	$0.74
Amplifier
On, not playing	33.99	21.4	70.93	$22.64
On, playing	39.16	21.11	69.3	$26.08
Off	0.27	0	1.8	$0.18
Audio Minisystem
CD, not playing	13.99	1.67	36.95	$9.31
Cassette, not playing	13.85	1.67	33.14	$9.22
CD playing	19.09	5.2	41.2	$12.71
Off	8.32	0.3	24.58	$5.54
Radio playing	14.41	2.98	38	$9.59
CD Player
On, not playing	8.62	4	25.7	$5.74
On, playing	9.91	5.8	25.6	$6.60
Off	5.04	2	18.4	$3.36
Caller ID Unit
Ready	1.27	1.27	1.27	$0.84
Cassette Deck
On, not playing	4.53	4.36	4.7	$3.02
On, playing	5.72	5.2	6.25	$3.81
Off	0.54	0	1.08	$0.34
Clock
On	1.74	0.99	3.61	$1.16
Radio playing	2.95	1.7	4.2	$1.96
Coffee Maker
Off	1.14	0	2.7	$0.76
Copier
Off	1.49	0	2.97	$0.99
On	9.63	3.6	14	$6.41
DVD Recorder
Off	0.75	0	1.5	$0.50
DVD Player
On, not playing	7.54	0.24	12.7	$5.02
On, playing	9.91	5.28	17.17	$6.60
Off	1.55	0	10.58	$1.03
DVD/VCR
On, not playing	13.51	8.48	20.5	$8.99
On, playing	15.33	9.43	22.37	$10.21
Off	5.04	0.09	12.7	$3.36
Game Console
Active	26.98	5.4	67.68	$17.97
Off	1.01	0	2.13	$0.67
Ready	23.34	2.12	63.74	$15.54
Garage Door Opener
Ready	4.48	1.8	7.3	$2.98
Low-voltage Landscape
Ready	1.13	1.1	1.17	$0.75
Microwave Ovens
Ready, door closed	3.08	1.4	4.9	$2.05
Ready, door open	25.79	1.6	39	$17.18
Cooking	1433.	966.2	1723.	$954.38
Musical Instruments
Off	2.82	1.2	4.2	$18.78
Receiver (audio)
On, not playing	37.61	17.1	65.2	$25.05
Off	2.92	0	19.7	$1.94
Subwoofer
On, not playing	10.7	5.8	20.6	$7.13
On, playing	12.42	5.9	20.6	$8.27
Surge Protector
Off	1.05	0	6.3	$0.70
On	0.8	0	6.92	$0.05
Telephone Answering Device
Off	2.01	1.31	2.55	$1.34
Ready	2.25	1.42	2.83	$1.50
Television/VCR
Off by remote	5.15	2.15	13.3	$3.43
Off by switch	5.99	2.15	13.11	$3.99
Turntable (audio)
On, not playing	6.01	1.72	12.8	$4.00
Off	0.2	0	0.6	$0.13
VCR
On, not playing	7.77	3.8	11.62	$5.17
Off	4.68	1.2	9.9	$3.12