Is it possible to save energy by unplugging electrical appliances?

Question

A friend told me that he saves from $5,00 to $10.00 per month on his electric bill be unpluging his appliances such as toasters, microwaves and washer. Can this be ture?

Answer 1

Probably not. Most appliances draw no power unless actually turned on. Some will have a clock or memory saver which draws a tiny bit when off, but it would not be in the 5-10 dollar range of power usage.

Answer 2

Absolutely. I'm not sure how much but it does save energy.

Answer 3

yeah, sure.

Answer 4

yes if your not going to be using it for more then a day. also put your computer's on sleep mode.

Answer 5

yes. when you have something plugged in, but your not using it, your still using energy.

Answer 6

In general, no.  But it depends how much you and your neighbour pay for electricity!

I pay about $0.11 for each kilowatt hour (kWh) I use. (This kWh is a unit of energy, about the amount of energy expended by a strong cyclist riding for 5 hours solid.)

So, let's say I have 50 little appliances and various gizmos plugged in all the time and doing nothing. In my experience most of them use nothing, a few use or 2 watts (a unit of power) and a very few use maybe 7 watts.

If we say each of my 50 little do-nothings is pulling 5 W (a massive overestimate) then I am constantly pulling 250 W of useless power. That really burns my waffles, I can tell you!

It also burns up 24 hours * 30 days * 250 W = 180 kWh (k means *1000)  

So I'd pay $0.11 * 180 kWh = $19.80 for my gizmos!

Paying $20/month because manufacturers do not care about energy efficiency is a pain, but so is plugging and unplugging 50 things when I want to use them. Can we zero in on the big offenders?

Yes. Laptops and PCs left on or sleeping. Cable TV set-top boxes. New TVs, DVD players, and anything with an instant "remote control" on/off function. Anything that feels warm to the touch even when it is off.

The toaster does nothing. The washing machine does nothing (unless it's a very weirdly and badly built high-tech model.)

I've found one of these little testers is very handy:

http://www.p3international.com/products/...

Based on my own Kill-A-Watt testing, your phantom loads are not your biggest problem. For many people they won't be anything like $10 a month, and for some they will -- but I'd bet there's one main offender. For me, it's my DVD player (5 W when turned off, 7 W when playing a DVD) and so I have the whole TV/stereo/DVD/amp/CD player cabinet on a power bar, which I turn off when I'm not watching or listening.

My advice is: Get compact fluorescent bulbs for your lights and replace your oldest fridge. Use a clothes line instead of a clothes dryer, in the summer. Insulate your water heater and its pipes. Don't fly to South Africa.  Walk to the corner store.

After that, worry about vampire power loads.

Answer 7

yes, even phone chargers

Answer 8

it depends what kind of appliance like a night light would use energy because the light stays on and uses electricity but a toaster wouldnt take energy unless u were toasting something. clocks computers and fans take alot of energy!!