Electronics
Electronics account for 10% of all household energy use.
In this Section
Electronics
Powering electronics is one of the fastest growing energy needs we have in Canada. In fact, electronics account for 10% of all household energy use on average. From computers and printers, to TVs and Blu-ray players, we are surrounded by energy-using devices. While individual products are becoming more energy efficient, we now have more electronics to plug in and charge than ever before.
There are two main ways we can reduce the amount of energy used by our electronics.
Choose ENERGY STAR Electronics
A key way to reduce your energy needs is to buy ENERGY STAR electronics. ENERGY STAR is the international symbol that tells consumers which products are the most energy efficient. You can find ENERGY STAR options for the most common home and office electronics, including TVs, audio systems, DVD and Blu-ray players, computers, and printers. With the growing number of electronics in our homes and offices, switching to ENERGY STAR products is a great way to reduce your electricity use. For example, an ENERGY STAR computer uses 35 - 60% less energy than traditional models.
Avoid Phantom Energy use
A "phantom" energy user is any appliance or electronic that continues to drain small amounts of energy even when they're turned off. That's because the "off" button doesn't really mean "off" these days; instead it means "standby." Phantom energy users are generally products with remote controls or continuous digital displays, and those with rechargeable batteries (e.g. cordless phone) or external power supplies (e.g. printer). Although the standby power consumption of most devices is relatively small, the number of products that draw on standby power is growing. The best options to save energy are:
- Plug your electronics into "smart" power bars that reduce standby energy use.
- Unplug chargers for things like laptops and cell phones after your device is charged.
- Use energy-saving settings on a device, if available.
- Unplug rarely used devices.