Unplug 'Energy Vampires': Save Energy

Unplug your stand-by electronics to save energy.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates global energy consumption due to standby power–or vampire pull–at between 200-400 terawatts per year. ¹ This equates to an estimated five to 10 percent of energy consumption from residential electricity from developed countries, with a rising fraction from large cities of developing countries. Standby power in commercial buildings is smaller but still significant. Altogether, the vampire pull is responsible for approximately one percent of global CO₂ emissions.²

This power drain can slowly dissipate with your help. Recent Japanese policies to reduce standby power appear effective, with studies (2008) suggesting that standby power is decreasing. The reduction is a result of both improved technologies and heightened consumer awareness.²

To this end, many new technologies from IEEE engineers can improve the efficiency of power supplies, manage power use more efficiently, and limit power use of TV displays and monitors – high vampire pull products. Industry experts report that it is technically feasible to reduce standby power by 75 percent overall; where most savings will be less than a watt, but other cases could be as large as 10 watts.²

Take the Challenge – Stop 'energy vampires' from draining your power. IEEE encourages you to take this IEEE Green Your World Challenge, and:

• Unplug battery chargers when the batteries are fully charged or when the chargers are not in use;
• Unplug appliances or power strips, as well as switch power strips to off, to cut all power to the appliance;
• Longer-term, when purchasing an appliance or consumer electronic device, look for energy-saving ENERGY STAR labeled home electronics.

"As one global nation seeking lower CO2 emissions, we must get back to basics and extend a reliable and efficient power supply – from strategic technology developments for next generation high performance batteries for consumer devices and electric vehicles to large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) for grid interconnections. We're at a critical path, where together everyone can focus on minimizing unnecessary power pull."

– Professor Ryuichi Yokoyama, IEEE Fellow

¹ Support: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/climatechange/5638670/Government-pamphlet-urges-people-to-walk-to-work-to-stop-climate-change.html
² Support:http://standby.lbl.gov/faq.html

 

DID YOU KNOW

"We're at a critical path, where together everyone can focus on minimizing unnecessary power pull."

– Professor Ryuichi Yokoyama, IEEE Fellow