Can plugging appliances into a power chord save energy & reduce a utility bill?

Question

I saw a news story a couple days ago about this and would like some more info. Does this only apply to appliances not in use, like a TV or microwave?

Answer 1

It depends on the power strip. There are things called smart strips, they are usually used for computers or entertainment units, basically when you turn off the main appliance, which would likely be the computer or TV, it will turn off all the other appliances with it, like the monitor, printer and speakers for the computer, or the VCR and game console for the TV.

I also use power strips with an off switch on it, I plug my TV, VCR and game console into it and when I'm done watching TV I flip the switch, no more stand by power being drained from the grid. If you have a TiVo or DVR, you don't want it to be on the same switch. I also put all the celphone chargers on a powerstrip. When we take the phones off, we flip 1 switch instead of having to unplug a bunch of cords, it helps keep things neat.

I also have my computer on a battery back up, when I shut it down I turn off the switch. I don't need it charging when it won't be needed. I also unplug my laptop when not in use, the battery will charge continuously if not.

Also unplug kitchen appliances when not in use. Many of them draw electricity when not in use. I don't know which ones, one day I'll get one of those nifty meters, but until then I just unplug everything.

Answer 2

Power is power is power.  Plugging an appliance into a cord only changes the path of the electricity.  It will not save you money.  Use a clothsline and wash dishes by hand if you want to save on electricity.

Answer 3

Plugging appliances into the power cord saves you money only if you turn the power cord OFF.  If it is on, it is the same as if the appliances were plugged into the wall.  Anything plugged into the wall uses energy when even when it is turned  off like a TV, but if it is plugged into a power bar and the bar is turned off it does not  use energy.   If you plug in your cell phone charger to the wall but don't have your cell phone hooked up to it, it still uses up power, so unplug anything you don't use often, and for those things you do use often you can plug them into the power bar and turn the power bar off when you go out or are not using them.  You will notice more money will be in your pocket when you do this.

Answer 4

Absolutely not.  Appliances should not be plugged into power cords if it can be prevented.  Electricity running through a wire creates heat and if the power cord heats up sufficiently, especially in the cheaper cords,  then it could cause a fire.  If a power cord is necessary, then the wire should be large enough to carry the amount of current that the appliance draws without heating up excessively.  Length of the cord also plays a major role in the cord you select because the longer the cord, the more the wire resistance you add to the path of the electrical current.  Some wire ratings go as such: Size 18 wire is good for 5 amps.  Size 14 wire is good for 15 amps.  Size 12 wire is good for 20 amps.  Size 10 wire is good for 25-30 amps.  size 8 good for 35-40 amps.  Circuit breakers are designed to snap off at 80% of their rating.  Thus a 15amp breaker will pop off at a continuous draw of 12 amps.  A 20amp breaker will pop off at a continuous 16 amp draw.  One thing to mention is that if your extension cord is to long, thus causing more wire resistance then you may be robbing the appliance of current it needs to operate properly.  Giving the appliance especially if it has motors on it, less current to operate on will often cause the applinace motor to overheat and more often than not, will cause the appliance to burn out.   Check the rating on the name plate of the appliance and then get a power cord that will carry the amount of current it requires.

Answer 5

Simply put IT IS A FIRE DANGER AND MAY END UP COSTING YOU MONEY!!

Answer 6

If you unplug an appliance after every time you use it - you will save money on your electricity bill

Answer 7

If you plug all of you home electronic into a power strip.... you can turn all of them off with one switch.

Saving you a minute amount of energy consumption for all of those LED lights that are on all the time.

Answer 8

yes, yes, yes. electric meter runs not on how electricity come out by how much electricity enters the house so, even if an appliance is on standby mode or switched off it still consumes energy by the fact that it is still connected to the source.