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Submetering for Condos Newsletter - Issue #3Exorcise Those Energy VampiresTurn off the lights behind you, keeps your showers short – we all know the basics of energy conversation. But what about those hidden zappers of power that are not so obvious? Many of us don’t realize that even though an appliance is turned off or not in operation, it still might be drawing electricity. “Phantom” energy loss is a small but growing portion of the average household’s energy consumption. Presently, statistics from the US estimate that some 5 percent of total household electricity use comes from phantom or standby energy loss. While this might not sound like a lot, if you do the math across all households in the US it adds up to a whopping 65 billion kilowatt-hours of wasted electricity costing about $5.8 billion annually. Entertainment related appliances are the biggest offenders. Televisions, DVD players, cable and satellite boxes are said to make up about 35 percent of total leaking electricity. Many of these devices operate in a “stand-by” mode that uses a small amount of electricity to always be at the ready when the remote is flicked on. Other guilty parties include chargers for cell phones, digital cameras and camcorders, laptops, IPods etc. that are left plugged in even after the device has been fully charged. Here are two tips to eliminate energy vampires in your home. If you’re not using it, unplug it – By unplugging your devices you eliminate any chance of energy waste. You might consider using a power bar for electronic appliances and devices in close proximity. When they are not being used, turn the power bar off and then unplug it. This might not, however, be practical in offices where battery backup systems and network servers need to be on at all times. Read the label – When purchasing an appliance, read the label to determine the levels of stand-by power the appliances uses. If you can, pick the appliance that uses the least amount. Look for the EnerGuide label before you buy. |
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