Cooperative Living July 2021 - 26

SmartConnect | by Susan Gilbert, Contributing Columnist
The Cost of Convenience
Phantom loads keep your electric meter whirling
id you know that even if you
turned off every electrical device
in your home, it would continue
using about 10% of its normal use?
Surprising, but true. Many of our
appliances use a small amount of
energy, even when they are turned off
or are in sleep mode. Like little thieves
taking electricity when we are unaware,
this is known as phantom load, the
power consumed by a device while it
is turned off or in standby mode.
Phantom loads keep the clocks
running on your microwave and DVR,R,
and they make it possible for your TV
to power on instantly without having
to warm up.
They keep your Wi-Fi network
running around the clock, and those
phantom loads assure your wireless
printer is ready to go whenever you
click " print. "
All this convenience comes with
a price. Given that a typical home's
annual electricity bill is about $1,500,
that means we are paying about $150
per year or roughly $12 per month
for this convenience.
FINDING THE CULPRITS
Given that we aren't likely to get
rid of our appliances and devices, it's a
good idea to do what you can to reduce
D
your phantom loads. The first step is
knowing what they are and determining
which you can affect. You are not going
to unplug a built-in microwave or oven,
but some devices can be better managed
with some simple techniques.
Three of the largest culprits in most
homes are related to entertainment:
your older TVs, digital video recorders
and cable set-top boxes.
As you can see from the chart below,
those three are larger phantom loads
than your modem, garage door opener
or cellphone charger.
REDUCING PHANTOM LOADS
Here are some steps to take in
reducing the costs of phantom loads:
1. Unplug devices, like chargers,
which draw energy even when not
in use.
2. Consider unplugging appliances
that have clocks, like microwaves and
coffee makers, until you need them.
3. Most computer operating systems
have settings that will run it in a
more energy-efficient mode. Set your
computer to go into sleep mode when
it's not in use.
4. Plug all your computer
components into a power strip with an
on/off switch. Turn off the strip when
you're finished using it. Do the same
ANNUAL COST @ 12 cents / kWh
Older TV
DVR
Cable Set-top
Modum
Audio System
Garage Door Opener
Surge Protector
Power Tool Charger
Coffee Maker
Phone Charger
$1
$1
$0
$10
$20
$30
$40
$50
$8
$6
$5
$5
$4
$47
$32
$32
Appliances use
small amounts
of energy, even
when turned off or
in sleep mode.
for your TV, and other audio and home
entertainment devices. This tip may be
be the most beneficial, cost-effective
and convenient to implement. It's a
good idea to pay a little more for strips
that come with surge protection and
run closer to $10.
5. Consider investing in smart
power strips that automatically cut
power to devices that aren't being used.
They cost a little more than the manual
ones with the toggle switch, but you
are paying for the convenience of not
having to flip the switch. But do your
homework: They pose some potential
challenges. For instance, some devices
like DVRs need continuous access to
power for performing scheduled tasks,
like recording a show. A sudden loss
of power can damage devices like
printers that have controlled shutdown
sequences.
For more information on phantom
loads, check your cooperative's website
for a phantom load calculator, usually
found under a heading like Energy
Resource Center, Energy Solutions,
and Manage Energy. 
Susan Gilbert is CEO of Apogee Interactive
Inc., which works with many Virginia and
Maryland electric cooperatives on energy
analysis and member satisfaction.
24 | Cooperative Living | July 2021
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Cooperative Living July 2021

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