How to Reduce Phantom Power
We all want to conserve energy, but because so much of our lives depends on electronic equipment, we can often feel as though conservation is hard to do. But what if you could reduce your electric bill by 10 percent a year just by eliminating "phantom power," the current that electrical items continue to draw even when they are not in use? Electric items all suck electricity even when we're not using them. Keep your phantom power to a minimum through some simple techniques. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Small Electronics
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1
Take an area of your home or office and make it the centralized charging station.
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Plug in a multi-outlet surge protector power strip, the type with an on/off switch.
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Plug all of your small electronics' charging cords into this power strip.
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Turn the switch on the power strip off when your equipment is charged or not in use. Not only will this help reduce your phantom power, but all of your devices will be located in one spot, so you won't have to hear "Where's my iPod?" quite as often.
TVs, DVD Players and Home Entertainment Systems
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5
Plug all of your devices into a multi-outlet surge protector power strip.
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Plug the power strip into a timer that gets plugged into the wall outlet.
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Set the timer to turn the power off around the time of night you usually go to bed. If you don't watch TV in the morning before you go to work, set the timer to turn the power back on right before you get home. This way, your equipment won't be drawing unnecessary power all night and all day.
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References
- Photo Credit Jeffrey Hamilton/Digital Vision/Getty Images
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Comments
View all 89 Comments-
I'm happier with my lower bill. Harnessing phantom power really makes a difference. I was unaware until my power company explained it to me. If you don't have a timer, create an easier way to unplug; Most of my chargers are plugged into one surge protector, making it easier to turn 1 strip off at bedtime or before leaving for awhile. If you have satellite TV, be sure the boxes get turned off with the TV. *Note- they are known to turn back on with power surges.
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Larry Fike
Dec 08, 2010
I like your timer idea. I had not thought of that! -
Dave Donovan
Dec 07, 2010
keimanzero, that's not true, the switch is just like a light switch, turn it off and everything plugged into the outlets on the surge protector receives no electricity whatsoever. Sure, there's still electricity going to the surge protector, but with the switch off, it's not flowing past the switch. If you're turning the switch off on your surge protector and your components are still drawing power, then you have a faulty switch on that surge protector.
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keimanzero
Dec 07, 2010
Sorry pal but if they are still plugged into the power strip even though it's switch is 'off' your plugged in items are STILL drawing power and energy. Try again- K&K
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megavoce
Dec 07, 2010
Robynbird: I've solved this by plugging my cable box into the wall, but everything else (TV, stereo, DVD, Wii, etc) into the power strip. That way the cable box doesn't get its clock and programming scrambled, but it's the only power suck on the wall.
