Energy Waste

Energy Waste

Electricity is the most important form of energy available today. It is used to run practically all equipment in homes and offices. It is surprising yet true that even when we think, we are not consuming electricity we are still consuming it. The "stand by mode" is a big time culprit.


Stand by Mode

The stand by mode is that state of an electronic device where it is between fully off and fully on. The device according to us is switched off, but in reality, it is not. It consumes energy to maintain itself on the stand by mode. It can be said that the device is in a state where it is ready to be switched on; it is waiting for a command from the remote control. To continuously search for the remote, it consumes power. T.V. sets, computer systems, cordless telephones are some of the devices which have the standby mode. To actually switch it off, the plug should be removed from the socket. In the stand by mode, it wastes energy.

The problem with the standby mode is not that the devices consume too much electricity, the problem is that there are too many devices that are consuming electricity on the standby mode. As per reports of the IEA (International Energy Association) in a typical European, Japanese, Australian and North American home, an average of twenty devices are continuously on in stand by mode. As per the same reports “Standby power is responsible for 5-10% of total electricity use in most homes and an unknown amount in commercial buildings and factories. Standby power is responsible for roughly 1% of global carbon dioxide emissions.”

This energy is also referred to by several other names such as vampire power, parasitic power