Should a toaster, coffe maker, etc. be unplugged when not in use to be more 'green'?

Question

I read at 'Project: Live Green' that we should:

"Unplug toasters, blenders and other occasional-use electronics when not in use--all of these items use power, even when not in use, contributing to your overall energy use. "

http://www.projectlivegreen.com/whygogreen_.html

I don't understand this concept. My toaster, coffeemaker, etc. do not have any electronics in them, like LEDs, clocks, etc. So how can they be drawing electricity? I understand things that have transformers using electricity even when not turned on, but why things like toasters? Can anyone explain, with links?

Answer 1

Toaster, coffee makers, laptops, TVs, cell phone chargers, electric toothbrushes...if they have a cord that plugs into an outlet, they draw electricity.  If they have a one button on/off switch, generally they draw "standby power" or "vampire power."  

Most people think that when you turn something off, it actually turns off.  Most people assume that it stops drawing power.  Unfortunately, that's not true in the case of most electric devices.  Most of them just hover in standby mode, ready at the snap of the fingers to turn on, and some use more electricity while they're waiting for that moment. A 1999 study in New Zealand conducted by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority indicated that 40% of microwave ovens used more electricity to power the clock and the keypad over the course of the year than actually heating food.  Big screen TV's (and their respective cable boxes and satellites) up to 30 watts when off.  A computer left turned on can potentially draw as much current as a refrigerator.  And what about those chargers?  Even when your cell phone (or other battery operated device) isn't charging, even if it's not even plugged in, it's still drawing power. It may even add as much as 10% to your energy bill.

Check out this wiki on how to reduce your vampire power: http://greenhome.huddler.com/wiki/how-to...

Answer 2

sorry no links but yes you should take out plugs when your not using them.

it saves energy and some of your own money.

Answer 3

i do not think so,  however some peeps unplug the toaster and stuff so to keep fires hazards from happening  in the house due to faulty wiring and equipment used.

Answer 4

Many such appliances draw a tiny amount of current even when "off" if left plugged in. While this is inconsequential, there is a fire hazard leaving any such device "active" when no one is around. A power strip with a switch and braker on it to "enable" or switch off all such appliances makes much more sense, unless a clock is involved. Regards, Larry.

Answer 5

I agree - this doesn't make any sense to me.

The things that draw "phantom" power are things that have transformers, things that have clocks or indicator lights on them, and things that use remote controls that are always checking to see if a remote control button has been pressed.

A traditional, old-style toaster is really just an electric element, a cord, a housing and a couple of local controls.   It should not draw any power when not in use.   Likewise for an old-style blender.  Or a mixer.  Or a hairdryer.  Or any one of a number of things.

Great question.

Answer 6

If they don't have electronic timers or LED displays then they will not draw any power at all when they're switched off.  Appliances with clocks or other electronics (such as sensors for remote controls) do draw a small amount of power when not in use but rarely more than half a watt.  To put that in perspective, you would have to leave them plugged in for 40,000 hours (4 years and 7 months) to use one dollar's worth of electricity.  You'd save more than ten times that much by unplugging a single night light.

The only devices that use substantial amounts of power when turned off are conventional television sets.  They consume between 5 and 15 watts to keep the picture tube warm, but the downside to unplugging them is that they'll take up to five minutes warming up when you turn them on.

On edit:  Devices with transformers will only create "phantom load" if they use an external AC adapter, and that load is barely measurable because a transformer with no load does not draw significant current (the current drawn by the transformer is directly proportional to the load on the secondary).

Answer 7

I don't have any links, but i have been unplugging my appliances for a few months now and have found my electric bill to lower. I help the environment and save money.