Turn off at the wall

POWER-hungry homes filled with TVs, video games and computers are being sucked dry of dollars because appliances are left on standby rather than being switched off when not in use.
Electricians warn some big households can waste hundreds of dollars a year by not manually turning off appliances or switching them off at the power point.
Televisions, DVD players, stereo systems, microwave ovens, and cordless phones are common power guzzlers. Electrician Phillip Gear, of Ecomonitor, said a typical home had dozens of appliances capable of constantly drawing power. “If you turn something off and still see a clock or a light on, it is still consuming some energy and costing you.
“Some homes are wasting an enormous amount of money because of pure negligence,” Mr Gear said. “They have a ridiculous number of items - three or four TVs. The kids have all the bells and whistles, but they are only turning off with a remote control. “A lot of new TVs on the market can be a trap, because they don’t have a manual off button.” Small amounts of standby power combined across multiple devices can amount to about 10 per cent of total electricity bills, depending on the efficiency level of the model being used.
Mr Gear said the problem was worsening as the number of devices accumulating in average households continues to mushroom. Efficiency experts advise consumers to completely unplug electronic appliances when they are used only occasionally or during holidays, and to pay attention to energy rating labels on products.
- Herald Sun

Herald Issue 463 10 June
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