Eliminating Phantom Power
Have you ever wondered why your electricity bills are constantly increasing, even after doing all that you can to reduce electricity consumption? When I first moved into my house, I replaced all of the old lightbulbs with LED, bought “Energy Star” electronics and appliances, and tried not to use my heater/air conditioning too often. Yet, I still found that my electricity bills were higher than I wanted.
One of the contributors to our electricity bills is phantom Power. Phantom power is the constant low-level energy drain from devices that are connected to power sources, but are in “standby” or are not actively being used. It can also be known as leaking electricity or vampire power. This electricity usage can account for up to 10% of a home’s energy use, or 5.4 TWh annually in Canada, equal to the annual power consumption of 300,000 households.
Common Sources of phantom power can include:
Laptops, desktops, and monitors
Stereo systems
Cellphone and tablet chargers
Power tools and battery chargers
Microwaves, coffee makers, stoves/ranges
TVs and entertainment devices
Electric toothbrush and shaver chargers
The Average Annual Costs (Canadian):
Computer Speaker: $3.17
Laptop computer: $2.38
Stereo System: $3.96
Video Game Console: $8.72
Cable TV Box: $6.34
Desktop Computer: $15.85
PVR/Recorder: $21.40
TV (newer): $1.59
Estimated Total Annual Cost: $63.41
Most households will have between 20 and 40 consumer electronic devices plugged in and drawing phantom power which can mean the above numbers are underestimating the financial cost on our electricity bills.
While $63.41 may not seem like a lot over the course of the year, if we consider that this is from just one household, the economical benefits can be significant if widespread elimination of phantom power was adopted.
So the question becomes, “how do we eliminate phantom power?”
The easiest method is to unplug or turn off the power bars that supply electricity to these devices. Though, depending on the location and importance of these devices, it may be difficult to remember to turn it off after each use or before going to bed.
A more recent method, and one that has been growing in popularity, is to use “smart power bars” or power bars that can be set to automatically shut off depending on the time or at the press of a button on your smart phone.
Timer-based power bars allow you to set a specific time range for the power bar to shut off (such as overnight) can be installed anywhere you want, whether the office or in the living room. These devices have been commonly used to control outdoor holiday lighting to reduce electricity usage and prevent you from having to physically unplug them each night.
There are also new power bars that connect via Wi-Fi and allow you to control them with an app on your phone. That way, if you forget to turn off the devices before bed or before leaving for the day, you can use your phone to remotely turn them off.
By connecting a smart power bar to your TV, DVD player, speakers, PVR, and cable TV box, you can save yourself ~$35 per year in electricity, which pays for the device (assuming a retail cost of between $30-$40 CAD). By connecting more devices, like a dedicated device charging “station”, these savings can be further increased.
If you are looking at buying new electronics or appliances, Canada has an ENERGY STAR program where devices are identified with the ENERGY STAR logo. This means that the device uses up to 50% less electricity in standby mode compared to other, less energy-efficient models5. It can be found on a wide range of appliances and devices from laptops, refrigerators, air conditioners, and even ceiling fans.
Look for ways you can reduce electricity usage in your homes and help improve our sustainability and reduce the environmental impact of an increasingly demanding digital age.
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