There are a series of electronic devices that remain on stand-by and cause energy waste, even when we are not using them.
"Energy vampires." This is the concept that defines all those devices that remain in standby states and consume energy even when we are not using them and they are turned off. Do you think you don't know any? Probably yes. A clear example is all those televisions that have a small light just to warn that it is still in operation, and although it may seem like an insignificant expense, it still corresponds to energy consumption.
Furthermore, if we take into account the different equipment that may be using these small amounts of energy, together they can end up causing a significant value in your electricity bill.
Check out below a list of the 10 devices that use the most energy even when not in use , created based on a study carried out by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory of the United States Department of Energy.
10) Smartphone charger
This cell phone accessory is the device with the lowest consumption on the list with 0.26w. However, perhaps you should ask yourself if it is really necessary to leave it connected when it is not charging your phone.
9) Cordless phone
Although many only use their cell phones today, it is possible that your house or your parents' house still has one of these phones. However, don't panic if you leave it connected. In total, these devices have a low consumption of 0.98w per hour, although it can go up to 2.9w if the device includes an answering machine.
8) Video game console
Are you a fan of video games? Although your turned off console only consumes about 1w, that does not mean that you should not be careful. If you leave this equipment in the "ready to use" mode, this figure can even rise to 23.3w.
7) Coffee maker
An extremely common device in some homes has a cost similar to that of consoles. In this way, this appliance can consume a little more than 1w for every hour that you are not using it but it remains plugged in.
6) Desktop computer
Maybe this team isn't in the position you thought, but that doesn't mean it doesn't spend energy. When turned off and plugged in, the computers only reach 2.8 watts of power. Meanwhile, if you leave your PC in "suspended" mode, its consumption will reach 21.1w. The worst expense is if you simply leave it on, doing nothing but with the monitor off. In these cases the device can use up to 73.9w.
5) Microwave
This classic kitchen element is often kept plugged in to facilitate its use, and although its consumption is not particularly high (3.8w) you should be careful about leaving it closed. If you do not do this, your consumption can increase up to eight times, reaching a total of 25w.
4) Television, rear projection
If you have an LCD television, it is likely that its consumption is quite low and does not exceed 6.6w. On the other hand, if you have a rear projection model, still very popular in many parts of the region, you can consume twice as much as an old cathode ray model, almost a museum piece today.
3) Mini music component
Is music your thing? In any case you must be careful. Although in this case there is a large variation in energy consumption, with an average of 8.3w, there is the possibility that if your equipment includes a radio and is kept on, it could reach a consumption of 14.4w.
2) Laptop
Even if it is completely turned off, if your laptop is connected it can consume up to 8.9 watts per hour. Meanwhile, if it is in the "suspended" or "sleep" mode, the expense can rise to 15.7w.
1) Cable TV box
The biggest "energy vampire" of the equipment that you may have in your home is without a doubt this device. Depending on the model of the box, whether it is cable or satellite, consumption will also vary. On average, these devices consume up to 43.4w every 60 minutes. A figure that can go up quite a bit if it is of the "cable with video recorder" type.
*Consumption in watts (w) corresponds to the cost per hour while they are turned off.
