Standby!  We are constantly being told to switch of the TV / Sky Box / Computer / Laptop or any other electronic device, and not leave on standby.  The question i have is how much power does standby use and how much does that cost me in £ and Pence.

Computers

Computers are not as straight forward as other electronic devices to measure power consumption because the amount varies depending on how many drives are spinning, and how much number crunching is actually going on.

Lets look at Joe Averages Computer:

15″ LCD Monitor = 35 watts
Computer = 200 watts * Average figure

Total Usage per hour = 235 watts per hour your computer is on…..  What does that mean in real money?

Using the formula below:

Assume the computer is on for at least 8 hours a day =19p per day and  £70 per year

If the computer spends the rest of the day on stand by, (24-8 = 16hours)  using 1-6 watts while sleeping a further cost of  (if we take the middle wattage) 3(w) x 16(h)/1000 x 10.458(p) = £3.66 per year using 35 kilowatt hours which equates to (~600g C02 = 1kwh from coal powerstation) 10kg CO2.

So that’s the same weight of CO2 as 10 bags of sugar ….  + a pint and a half at the pub all for switching of your computer rather than leaving it on standby.

BT Home Hub Router V.2

Most Internet routers get left on 24/7. The newest BT Home Hub uses 10watts = £9 per year / 52kg

Other Home Devices

Sky+ 12w Standby assuming 16hours standby a day = £7 per year / 42kg

TV 6w assuming 16hours standby Standby £4 per year / 21kg

VCR 6w assuming 16hours standby Standby £4 per year / 21kg

So using the average figures from above we could save up to £20 per year / 90kg  CO2 by switching of our Sky/TV/VCR /PC instead of using the standby.  Think,  What else is using power,  Average households have 2 tvs and 2 computers…..  so your saving could be much more.

We’ve calculated these prices based on the rates of a standard UK Electricity provider. Here’s what we’ve used:

Provider: E-on Energy (Tariff: Standard tariff)
Rate: 10.458 pence per kilowatt/hour
Rate last checked: 1st August 2008