December 13, 2007 10:50 AM PST

What is the cost of "vampire energy"?

Vampire Energy graphic(Credit: GOOD Magazine)

I've been curious recently about how much electricity all our devices that stay plugged in all the time and in some sort of standby mode consume, even when we are not actually using them. And what does that translate into in terms of real money?

Coincidentally, GOOD Magazine has created this handy chart that graphically depicts the impact.

The real surprise on it is plasma TVs--who knew they were sucking so much energy when "off"? And that game console of yours? It's costing you $25 a year just sitting there, even when you're not using it. Have more than one console? Well, do the math...

The chart does not include all the wall-warts for cell phones, laptops, cameras, and the like that tend to stay plugged into the wall (and consuming some amount of electricity) even when not actually charging their devices. By some estimates these are responsible for 4 percent of all U.S. electricity consumption, equivalent to almost 100 million tons of oil. Hmm, no wonder the U.S. is 5 percent of the world's population but consumes 23 percent of its energy...

Recent posts from Matter/Anti-Matter
How will Google Chrome change the user experience on the web?
Understanding Google Chrome
Google Earth shows cows point north
Disassembled electric appliances
The Obama SMS: (Un-)gratifying instantification
Add a Comment (Log in or register) 6 comments
by jds3266 December 13, 2007 5:09 PM PST
What about turning a power cord off? Will this stop drawing power?
Reply to this comment View reply
by suyts December 13, 2007 5:50 PM PST
You should have asked your electric company. A plasma TV uses as much as a refridgerator. Computers, yeh, they constantly suck power but not much. The best thing one can do regarding computers (one doesn't want to constantly plug and unplug your computer) is to turn off the monitor. It doesn't hurt the monitor and eliminates the need for a screen saver that takes resources from your computer and saves significant electricity all at the same time.
Reply to this comment
by andrewrennie December 14, 2007 1:26 AM PST
The main problem with this article is the fact that you have failed to consider what impact constantly fully powering off and on the appliances has! Every time that you completely power down and then power up the tv, for example, you are wearing out the components more quickly than if you leave it on standby mode. Thus, the tv will need replaced sooner. Therefore costing you more money than if you had left it on standby mode. Also the environmental cost of manufacturing the television is far greater than the environmental cost of leaving it on standby mode.

So in summary, every time you think you are doing the planet a favour by not using standby mode, you are in fact wearing out the components and thus not doing the planet so much of a favour after all!
Reply to this comment
by rcrusoe December 14, 2007 5:54 AM PST
I agree with andrewrennie. $34/year to leave my computer on 24/7? That's a bargain compared to the wear & tear caused by multiple boots/day. My old G5 hasn't been turned off in over 4 years and is still running like a charm.

Some other devices like my series 1 Tivo have been spinning more than twice that long. For a lot of devices leaving them on is much better for their health.

As far as I'm concerned, if I can't afford to leave them running and available, I can't afford to own them.
Reply to this comment
by globehopper22 January 9, 2008 4:22 AM PST
Learning about wasted power is great, once you see a problem then you can take steps towards fixing it. Whether you wish to save money or not is each person's perrogative. When I consider that I am wasting money that could be put to better use, I am all ears to new ideas. When I consider that wars are being fought over energy resources, and the impact it causes such as global warming... again I am all ears.

If you do not want to plug and unplug your electronics please consider googling the Smart Strip a surge protector that automatically turns off and on your appliances for you... all you do is turn on your TV and like magic your DVD player, VCR player and anything else that you plug into the strip will turn on aswell. This makes being energy -conscious easy.

http://bitsltd.net/ConsumerProducts/index.htm
Reply to this comment
Powered by Jive Software
advertisement

Latest tech news headlines

About Matter/Anti-Matter

Tim Leberecht and Adam Richardson both work for frog design, a consulting firm specialized in designing innovative products and services for Fortune 500 clients. On the Matter / Anti-Matter blog, they engage in a debate around questions they face day-to-day in their work, using convergence/divergence as a lens through which to look at the pressing issues in business, culture, and technology. What makes a successful convergent product or a successful divergent innovation? Is convergence a myth that users don't really care about, or is the current state of convergence just not satisfying enough for them to embrace? How much divergence of innovation is good, and when does it just become confusing? How do you stay on top of people's ever changing needs and wants?

They are members of the CNET Blog Network and are not employees of CNET.

Add this feed to your online news reader

Matter/Anti-Matter topics

Featured blogs

advertisement
advertisement

Inside CNET News

Scroll Left Scroll Right
  • Nanotech: The Circuits Blog

    Report: More competitive processors due from AMD

    AMD will bring out processors by early next year that appear to be much more competitive with Intel offerings.

  • Gallery

    Photos: Top 10 reviews of the week

    Here are CNET Reviews' 10 favorite items from the past week, including the TiVo HD XL, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50, and the Dish Network's newest digital TV converter box.

  • News - Apple

    Apple watchers spot 'iPod Nano' pix, iTunes hints

    The rumor mill has long been predicting a longer, leaner new version of the iPod Nano, and now it's conjuring up some pictures.

  • Coop's Corner

    Chris Shipley 1, Internet lynch mob 0

    Demo's impresario goes public with a tart and smartly written riposte to the shoot-from-the-lip crowd.

  • Video

    Katie Couric reflects on first Webcast

    The political conventions are over and so are CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric's first series of Webcasts. CNET's Kara Tsuboi sat down with Couric on the final night of the Republican National Convention to discuss what she liked about Webcasting, some of her most memorable guests, and whether TV news will still be around by the next round of conventions.

  • News - Digital Media

    Ad trade group opposes Yahoo-Google search deal

    Association of National Advertisers announces it has sent a letter to the top antitrust chief for the U.S. Department of Justice, issuing its objections to the controversial Yahoo-Google search ad partnership.

  • Video

    YouTube plays party politics

    During the presidential campaigning four years ago, YouTube didn't even exist. Now it's a tool candidates must master to get their message across. CNET's Kara Tsuboi stops by the YouTube upload booths at the Democratic and Republican conventions to find out why Google's video site has such a big presence in Denver and St. Paul, Minn.

  • News - Gaming and Culture

    Are Demo and TechCrunch50 fragmenting their audiences?

    With both events scheduled to start Monday, many press, as well as venture capitalists and others are having to choose which one to attend.

  • News - Cutting Edge

    Execs predict next Google-like tech

    On eve of company's 10-year anniversary, researchers and business pundits speculate about what technologies might someday have as much impact as Google.

  • Gallery

    Images: The art of 'Spore' prototypes

    Will Wright and his Maxis team worked on dozens of prototypes to test the elements of their soon-to-be-released evolution game. Here's a sampling.

  • Webware

    DemoFall preview: 10 to watch

    If you can only watch 10 pitches from DemoFall, these would be good ones.

  • Green Tech

    Duke Energy to invest in mini solar power plants

    Can hundreds of rooftop solar panels collectively operate like a central power plant? Duke Energy launches $100 million distributed solar program to find out.