Your Electronics and Power Consumption
An increasing number and variety of home electronics have made their way into our homes. These great gadgets bring us previously unimagined efficiency, access to entertainment and information, increased security, greater connectivity to friends and loved ones, and numerous other advantages.
Unfortunately, these devices are also responsible for increasing home energy use. In fact, they are guilty of guzzling millions of kilowatts of energy each day. Reducing this energy consumption can reduce pollution and save individual consumers hundreds of dollars per year. Find out how to measure and reduce you home energy use on this page.
Use the expandable Table of Contents below to find what you need on this page.
Measuring Power Consumption
What is Your Home Energy Use?
Everything from cable set top boxes and televisions to broadband modems and power adapters consume energy; even when devices are not in use.Estimates vary, but some reports indicate that home electronics account for as much as 25% of all US residential home energy use.
Perhaps the first step in the process of dealing with the issue of electronics power consumption is to identify the items within your household that consume the most power. Reigning in the biggest offenders can make a significant difference.
Consumers can get a good estimate of the power consumption within their household by using standard calculations, making use of power meters, or taking advantage of some basic online tools.
Find Out More About Measuring Power Consumption
- US Department of Energy
- This page discusses how to estimate the home energy use of common household appliances and electronics items. Televisions, DVD players, personal computers, and such are included. Get out your calculator.
- TIAX LLC Report
- A detailed report regarding the energy consumption of common household consumer electronics.
- My Green Electronics
- A really quick way to calculate the home energy use of your electronics without using a meter, getting out a calculator, or testing your specific devices.
Need a Power Meter?
How To Save Energy At Home
Tips to Curb the Apetite of Your Electronics
Eliminating all of the home electronics in your house probably isn't feasible or desirable, so what can you do to reduce your home energy use?Here are a few tips:
Purchase electronics that consume less energy.
Power off electronics when not in use and unplug if feasible; many electronics continue to use power when left plugged in.
Obviously, users don't want to have to reprogram a device if it must have the time or other functions reprogrammed each time it's powered down, but in most instances, this is not a concern. Use of a power strip is a good idea, as several devices can be turned off at once by flipping a single swich and avoiding the need to dig around for the outlet.
Use appropriate settings on display screens, especially the television.
Avoid excessive brightness if the room lighting doesn't require it. YouTube has a demonstration by Philips of their simple settings adjustment here. If you plan on using a Test Pattern to help you here are some written instructions or without a test pattern try here.
Make use of sleep mode, hibernate, or stand-by features when offered.
Be sure to set such features to activate within 20 minutes so that the device reduces power consumption as appropriate. Again, it is still best to power off devices when not in use but stand by mode is a good safety measure for times when you might forget or plan to return within 15 or 20 minutes.
Books About Energy Conservation at Home
Get a Power Strip and Turn Things Off
Reducing Power Consumption: The Future
Certainly, manufacturers are working to design home electronics that will consume less power and decrease the average home energy use.Alternative power sources from hydrogen fuel cells, body heat, and solar power among others are being phased in as new technologies such as OLED for lighting and display screens on televisions and computer monitors are being refined for reliability, affordability, and energy conservation.
Read more to find out what the future holds.
Reducing Home Energy Use: Future Developments
- CNET article
- A brief overview of ongoing efforts in the industry to make electronics which have lower home energy use.
- Physorg.com
- Learn about the future of using hydrogen fuel cells in cell phones
- Science Daily
- Learn about how we might capture wasted heat, and body heat, to power devices.
- Gizmodo article
- Solar powered laptop charger.
- Coolest-gadgets.com
- Find all kinds of solar gadgets.
- CBS News item
- A run down of a number of solar and hybrid devices.
- Gizmodo
- Learn about a fuel cell powered laptop.
- Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies
- Your own fuel cell generator?
- Panasonic
- Plasma TV's still consume a significant amount of energy, this article discusses, among other things, efforts in the last 3 or 4 years to change this.
- Newer Plasma Screens
- A short video from 2008 Consumer Electronics Show, mentions plasma screens that consume significantly less energy.
- CNET article
- How about a pocket sized wind power generator?
- EPA Standards Change
- The EPA announces increase in requirements for energy efficiency in TV displays to tame home energy use.
- Panasonic's More Energy Conscious Plamsa TV
- Panasonic announces they will be selling Plasma TVs with a 50% cut in energy consumption.
- Philips Eco TV
- Learn more about Philips Eco TV which drastically cuts the HDTV's power consumption.
- Yahoo!Tech
- A review of a solar powered MP3 player.
- Laser based DLP TV
- This Electronic House article describes the advantages of laser based TV and their energy savings.
- NY Times Article
- Learn about the potential of affordable home automation networks that can monitor electricity usage, report it to you, and provide tips on cutting back home energy use in real time.
- Panasonic's NEO Plasma Displays
- Learn about the new plasma displays from Panasonic that are said to consumer 50% less energy than earlier plasma TVs. (new in 2009)
Saving Energy At Home: In a Nutshell
Simple Energy Saving Tips
With the cost of energy skyrocketing, many people are turning to things like solar to shave their power bills. But you donât have to spend 10s of thousands of dollars to make a difference. Money reporter Stacy Johnson explains how little things can make a big difference.
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curated content from YouTube
Curbing Home Energy Use
Which of the suggestions below can you implement starting this month to have your electronics consume less energy?
Electronics Power Consumption in the News
- California Decision Could Limit HDTV Choices Nationwide
- Meanwhile, plasma manufacturers have reduced energy consumption of their larger models over the past two years, and there is room for further reduction. ...
- LG Taps UL To Confirm Ratings For CE, Majaps
- ... LG Electronics USA has enlisted UL Environment, a subsidiary of Underwriters Laboratories, to evaluate the manufacturer's water- and energy-consumption ...
- LG Electronics Unveils Energy Efficient Commercial Air Conditioning Systems ...
- 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Bringing new energy-conscious climate control options to HVAC systems for the hospitality industry, LG Electronics USA, ...
- LG Electronics Introduces Energy-Saving LCD, Plasma HDTVs at 2009 ...
- 9 /PRNewswire/ -- LG Electronics, the leading provider of flat-panel HDTV technologies to the lodging and hospitality industry, is expanding its line of ...
Shop Energy Efficient Electronics
DVD Players with Low Power Consumption
Need a Small TV with Low Power Consumption?
Want a Medium Size TV with Low Power Consumption?
Find a Large TV with Low Power Consumption
New Energy Saving Plasma TV
Panasonic VIERA S1 Series TC-P54S1 54-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV, Black
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 11/11/2009) 
Get More Tips for Energy Conservation from Igo
Home Energy Use: Other ideas to reduce electronics power consumption?
GreenSwitch for residential wrote
There is a system thats been used in Europe for the last 8 years in hotels and is now available in the states called GreenSwitch. Available for demonstration just about everywhere, email michael@wealthcreationplus.com for more info or go to www.greenswitchteam.com
Posted July 12, 2009
MiaBellezza wrote...
We'll be getting a new TV soon also, so will refer back to this lens - thanks and 5*!
Posted February 20, 2009
kiwisoutback wrote...
I need to get a new TV, especially one with a lower power consumption. I didn't even have that in mind when I purchased mine. It's one of those huge early HDTVs that weigh a couple hundred pounds. I can't wait to replace it. Lensrolling this to my home energy efficiency lens.
Posted February 11, 2009
PosterChildSmile wrote...
I'm always interested in ways to lower home energy use and I thank you for your helpful tips!!!
Posted January 29, 2009
jdac1999 wrote...
Hi, very nice lens. I like the way you have taken electronic consumption and broken it out in many specific points. I'm totaly onboard with you on the standby power and put a lens on using a smart strip. The beauty is it does the thinking and you don't have the flip the switch - not always practical. I also have a lens on home energy saving tips if interested.
Posted January 21, 2009
Iatjad wrote...
How true! Plugged electronics do consume energy even when turned off. I hate pulling out the plugs so I use power strips with switches. A simple flip of a switch cuts off electricity flow. I also have a mini lens with more energy conservation tips. Please drop by when you have the time :)
Posted December 18, 2008
berend wrote
Research indicates that a leading cause for energy wastage is that people have little or no understanding of the amount they spend on electricity or gas while using domestic (electronic) appliances ! See the article http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=170282
It might be of interest to develop some free tools to stimulate this cost-awareness (and thus save a lot of energy!), i.e. this free software to monitor domestic energyconsumption and costs : http://econote.nibfo.eu/
/cheers
Berend
Posted August 12, 2008
RichLeigh wrote...
Excellent lens. Very useful and fantastically well laid out!
Posted August 09, 2008
poddys wrote...
Very nice lens, 5***** You can also wash your clothes in cold water - only really stubborn stains need hot water. That makes all the difference. I wonder too if it's better to wash and dry smaller loads. A drier works a lot better with a smaller load.
Posted August 07, 2008
The_Homeopath wrote...
I love my HEwasher and dryer. Also, I found a cool site that shows how you can save on your power bill each month just by turning things off (something we sometimes forget) - http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/vampire.html
I even learned a thing or two. Slowly, I'm getting my plain light-bulbs switched over as the old ones burn out, but it's costing a lot of money initially to buy them.
Posted July 23, 2008
Introduction Photo Credit: tanakawho.
Measuring Power Consumption Photo Credit: Micah Taylor.
How to Save Energy at Home Photo Credit: ppdigital.
Reducing Power Consumption Photo Credit: CPStorm.
This site is listed at LensMasterWorld.com.
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