A surprisingly large number of electrical products—TVs to microwave ovens to air conditioners—cannot be switched off completely without being unplugged. These products draw power 24 hours a day, often without the knowledge of the consumer. We call this power consumption "standby power."
An individual product draws relatively little standby power (see here for examples) but a typical American home has forty products constantly drawing power. Together these amount to almost 10% of residential electricity use.
This website presents information on standby power and technologies to reduce it. We welcome your comments and contributions.
FAQs
- What exactly is standby power and why is it necessary?
- How can I identify products that draw standby power?
- How much standby does my TV, microwave, etc. use? See here for measurements.
- How can I reduce standby power use in my home?
- More FAQs
Suggestions and contact: Alan Meier