They say that small gestures make a difference. This is precisely what I am going to talk to you about here. How much does it cost you to turn off the red light on the TV? Surely much less, when you know what it can mean at the end of the year on your electricity bill. If you want to know the reasons why I always turn off the TV completely, below you have all the details.
Are you one of those people who turns off the TV with the remote and leaves it on Standby all night, or even days? Or do you turn everything off completely, including the red light? If you’ve never even considered this, stay tuned to find out how the phantom consumption of some household appliances deceives you.
What you should know about phantom consumption
We live in a time when increases in the price of electricity are an important issue many times throughout the year. Therefore, being aware of how we can act to have a more economical attitude is key. The first thing is to avoid phantom consumption from appliances that are not working. Phantom consumption is the energy consumed by appliances and electronic devices when they are plugged in, even if they are not in active use.
This is what we know as leaving them “off”, in stand-by mode, like TVs, mobile phone chargers, video game consoles and other devices with indicator lights on. According to the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE), this type of consumption can account for between 7% and 11% of the annual electricity expenditure in a Spanish home.
Economic impact of phantom consumption
Although it may seem insignificant, phantom consumption can add up to a considerable amount over the course of a year. For example, my 37-inch LCD TV in standby mode consumes around 17 kWh per year, which costs me around €3 per year. Other devices such as routers, printers and TV decoders also contribute to this unnecessary consumption. According to the OCU, a router can cost up to €11.91 per year in standby mode, making it one of the most expensive devices in this regard. Add up and keep counting the devices you have at home and you will start to notice a cold sweat.
Tips to reduce phantom consumption
Unplug appliances that you are not using: this is the easiest and most effective way to eliminate phantom power consumption, especially for devices that do not need to be always connected, such as printers and microwaves.
- Use power strips with switches: this way you can turn them all off at once. There are special power strips that can detect low activity and automatically cut off the power.
- Use timers and energy-saving modes: Having them turn off automatically when they are not needed, such as at night, can be a practical solution if you have appliances that allow this.
- Buy energy-efficient appliances: you should pay attention to the energy label when buying new appliances, knowing that devices with energy efficiency labels A or higher consume less, even when they are not working.
- Take advantage of natural light: keep the blinds open during the day, so you don’t need as much artificial lighting.
- Use LED bulbs: they consume less energy and have a longer lifespan than incandescent bulbs.
- Control the temperature at home: always set the thermostat to the right temperature. The ideal temperature for winter is 20-21 °C and for summer 24-26 °C.
Phantom consumption is a reality that is probably inflating your electricity bill without you even realizing it. Take measures such as unplugging devices, using power strips with switches, and buying efficient appliances to save money and be more sustainable.
