177: Power down by matthew

Every time you complete this action, you will reduce emissions by an estimated 743 lbs. CO₂e.

→ This tip is part of the Shrink & Save program!

These days most of us are surrounded by an impressive array electronic gadgets and appliances. These machines may look innocuous enough to the casual observer, but the combined force of their electric draw, even when they’re “off,” is nothing to laugh at. The phantom draw of electricity by gadgets that are not in use or even turned off adds up to a substantial sum, and we know that every kilowatt-hour of electricity has a price tag, in dollars and in pounds of carbon. The good news is that with a bit of conscious power management, you can slash the impact of your electronics.

• Use power strips. Shutting off all your entertainment and office equipment with the flip of a single switch makes stopping phantom draw easy.
• Use your computer’s power management settings. Set your computer to sleep if you leave it for more than a couple minutes, and turn it off if you won’t be using it for any real length of time.
• Unplug vampire chargers. Even when they’re not charging anything, chargers and power cords for cell phones, computers, cameras, and other personal electronics love to keep their fangs in the outlet, quietly sucking power while you sleep. Don’t let them.

Put an end to phantom draw, and you’ll save enough electricity annually to cut your electric bill by $63 and reduce your footprint by 743 pounds of CO₂, not to mention prolonging the life of your equipment.

Shrink & Save:
… Go with the flow, Power down, A bright idea …

• Embed this