“Vampire Energy” is robbing our planet of life.
WHAT IS VAMPIRE OR PHANTOM ENERGY?
Vampire power (also known as phantom power or standby mode) is defined as the minimum amount of electricity consumed by an appliance while plugged into an electrical outlet while switched off, doing nothing, or “not performing their primary” function.
Every cord that is still plugged into an outlet is still drawing electricity. While many devices have sleep or standby modes, they use energy continuously to perform updates, connect to remote servers, and record data.
Modern technology’s connectivity is one of the reasons why devices leak energy. Even when the TV is turned off, it is ready to receive a signal from the remote to turn on at any time.
When you have consistent power, your devices can respond quickly when you need them. However, this convenient feature comes at a cost in terms of monthly and yearly electricity costs. Many devices in most households use vampire power in standby mode.
INTERESTING FACTS
According to British Gas, vampire appliances could account for up to 23% of energy consumption in UK homes. The following are the five worst vampire appliances and their costs based on the average annual energy bill.
· Hi-Fi system on standby — costing $ 163.42 a year
· Sky box on standby — costing $ 163.42 a year
· Laptop charger not in use — costing $ 131.88 a year
· TV on standby — costing $ 22.36 a year
· Printer on standby — costing $ 22.36 a year
The average American household “donates” 10% of their electricity bill to vampire power, costing the American economy an estimate around $10 billion per year. That’s enough wasted energy to shut down 30 coal plants and enough money to fund Costa Rica and Honduras’ combined national budgets. This squandered energy emits 50 million tonnes of CO2 in the United States alone, the equivalent of putting 11 million more cars on the road. What’s particularly vexing is that we are solely to blame for this waste. Our own electronics are sucking us dry, costing us up to $200 per year in vampire power charges.
The survey, which was conducted in seven districts of Tamil Nadu last year, included four appliances: a television, a set-top box, an air conditioner, and a sound system, and the results revealed that more than 70% of respondents had their appliances on standby around the clock. According to Citizen Consumer and Civic Action Group, this translates into an additional annual expenditure of approximately $ 12.14 on electricity bills.
According to an Earth day study, 100 billion kilowatt-hours of vampire energy produce nearly 80 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of about 15 million cars’ annual carbon emissions. This accounts for about 1% of total global carbon emissions.
LIST OF ENERGY VAMPIRE DEVICES
Examine the chart of some of the most heinous vampire power offenders, then take a look around your house. The wattage data is from Berkeley Lab’s Standby Power Summary Table.
