|
Units:
Energy Through
Our Lives
What
is Energy?
Energy
Rules!
Course
Overview
Definitions
Course
Home
|
Energy Through Our Lives
|
 |
Section B. Energy Flow in Ecosystems
4a. Leaking Electricity
|
Are your appliances leaking electricity?
Some of you might not be familiar with what this means. Not only do we
have more small- and medium-sized appliances than ever before, but many of
these never really stop using electricity. For example, if the television
has a remote, then part of the TV is always on, waiting for a signal from
the remote. If there is a clock on the microwave then the microwave is
always using some electricity. Experts call this usage "standby
consumption" or "leaking electricity" because people are
often not aware that the appliance is using electricity.
| A single
appliance usually leaks only a small amount of electricity each hour (see Leaking
Watts Chart below) but since these appliances leak electricity
whenever they are not turned on, and since people have a lot of these
appliances, the amount of leaking electricity is significant. The average
household spends about $40 a year on leaking electricity. The federal
government is working with appliance and manufacturers to reduce the
amount of electricity that leaks out of new appliances. |
 |
|
Leaking Watts
Chart
Standby Consumption of Some Residential Appliances |
|
Type of Appliance |
Minimum (Watts) |
Average (Watts) |
Maximum (Watts) |
| Air Conditioner |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Alarm Clock |
0.7 |
1.3 |
2.0 |
| Amplifier |
0.0 |
1.4 |
5.5 |
| Answering Machine |
1.8 |
3.0 |
5.2 |
| Answering Machine/ Cordless Phone |
2.5 |
2.8 |
3.1 |
| ATX PC |
1.3 |
2.1 |
2.8 |
| Baby Monitor |
0.7 |
1.2 |
1.6 |
| Battery Charger |
0.2 |
1.4 |
3.2 |
| Boom Box |
0.7 |
2.2 |
7.7 |
| Cable Box |
4.8 |
11.6 |
18.0 |
| Cassette Deck |
0.0 |
2.8 |
6.6 |
| CD Player |
0.0 |
3.1 |
8.0 |
| Clock Radio |
0.9 |
1.7 |
3.2 |
| Cordless Phone |
1.1 |
2.7 |
5.0 |
| Dishwasher |
6.4 |
6.4 |
6.4 |
| DSS |
11.3 |
15.0 |
18.4 |
| DVD Player |
1.6 |
4.3 |
7.1 |
| Equalizer |
0.0 |
3.1 |
5.9 |
| Garage Door Opener |
3.5 |
3.8 |
4.0 |
| Internet Appliance |
7.5 |
7.5 |
7.5 |
| Linear Power Supply |
0.3 |
1.3 |
3.2 |
| Macintosh PC |
0.0 |
2.0 |
3.5 |
| Massager |
1.1 |
2.7 |
4.2 |
| Microwave Oven |
1.6 |
3.2 |
6.0 |
| Mini Disc |
4.5 |
4.8 |
5.1 |
| Mini Audio System |
1.3 |
9.3 |
28.6 |
| Modem (external) |
1.0 |
1.4 |
1.8 |
| Phone/Fax/Copier Combo |
3.3 |
4.7 |
6.5 |
| Power PC |
1.3 |
1.5 |
1.6 |
| Power Speaker |
0.0 |
1.6 |
3.1 |
| Preamp/Tuner |
1.4 |
2.4 |
3.2 |
| Printer |
3.5 |
3.5 |
3.5 |
| Range |
1.8 |
3.0 |
4.1 |
| Receiver |
0.0 |
1.8 |
5.9 |
| Rice Cooker |
1.5 |
2.0 |
2.5 |
| Security System |
15.0 |
18.3 |
21.5 |
| Shaver |
0.4 |
0.9 |
1.4 |
| Television |
0.0 |
4.3 |
12.3 |
| Tuner |
0.0 |
2.0 |
4.0 |
| TV/VCR Combo |
2.5 |
9.8 |
19.5 |
| Battery-Powered Vacuum Cleaner |
1.7 |
2.1 |
2.6 |
| VCR |
1.5 |
5.6 |
12.8 |
| Video Game |
0.0 |
1.1 |
2.0 |
Required Assignment: Proceed
to the Appliance Survey.
 Return
to Energy Through Our Lives -
Section B.4. Watts, Volts, and Amps, Oh My!.
To return to
Energy Through Our Lives index page.
To return to the
Course
Overview page.
|
