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Many common household devices use electricity, even when you aren’t using them. These devices create “phantom” electricity loads. An estimated 5-15% of household energy usage is from phantom loads.
Most phantom loads are relatively small, but when you add them all up, they can have a significant impact on your monthly energy use. Finding and eliminating phantom loads can help reduce your electric bill.
Where To Find Phantom Loads
You can use a Kill A Watt Monitor to accurately measure phantom loads in your home. Kill A Watt Monitors are available for check-out from our local libraries, or for purchase at home electronic stores. If you don’t want to use a monitor, you can use the table below to calculate a rough estimate of typical standby energy usage for common household items.
| Appliance | Average Annual Energy Use in Standby Mode (kWh) | Average Annual Cost at PUD Rate of 7.19¢/kWh | Number of Appliances in Your Home | Your Estimated Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desktop Computer | 70 | $5.03 | ||
| Inkjet Printer | 70 | $5.03 | ||
| Clock Radio | 18 | $1.29 | ||
| Garage Door Opener | 24 | $1.73 | ||
| Microwave Oven | 26 | $1.87 | ||
| Computer Router/Modem | 115 | $8.27 | ||
| DVD Player/DVR | 320 | $23.01 | ||
| Cable/Satellite Box | 128 | $9.20 | ||
| CRT TV (27″) | 26 | $1.87 | ||
| LCD TV (40″) | 123 | $8.84 | ||
| Plasma TV (50″) | 145 | $10.43 | ||
| Rear Projection TV (65″) | 186 | $13.37 | ||
| Cordless Phone | 14 | $1.01 | ||
| Stereo | 128 | $9.20 | ||
| Programmable Coffee Pot | 11 | $0.79 | ||
YOUR TOTAL ANNUAL COST: | ||||
How To Reduce Phantom Loads
- Unplug items that are not in use.
- Plug sensitive electronics such as computers, televisions or DVD players into surge suppressors, and then switch off the surge suppressor to eliminate the phantom power load. (Be sure to keep your set-top box and modem on a separate circuit to avoid loss of connection.)
- When replacing home electronics, choose ENERGY STAR® qualified items that typically use less power in standby mode.
