Saving energy - not leaving electrical equipment on standby

by Ian Mortmer
(Crawley, Sussex, UK.)

A very large amount of electrical energy could be saved by not leaving things like TVs and video equipment on standby when not actually being used. Although leaving things on standby can be very convenient it is also a total waste of energy and money. It also substantially increases carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere all the time we carry using fossil fuels to generate electricity.

I feel that this situation needs to be addressed very quickly... For gods sake we are looking at the future of the whole planet and all life on it not just human beings!

For heavens sake everybody wake up!!!

Barry's Response - Standby power (aka phantom load, vampire power) is about 15 W. That's about the same as your average CFL. Even just a few of these things can waste a lot of energy.

Using a dime per kilowatt-hour estimate, a 15 W trickle wastes 15 x 1000 x 720 = 10.8 kW-h or $1.08 per month. If you multiply that by the number of devices in your house, you might not want to just throw it away.

Various parts of the world will have new regulations requiring new devices to use less than one Watt in standby. Okay, that's better.

What are the environmental and climate implications of electrical power usage? Here are some insights.

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I could see that nuclear energy has the potential to provide electrical energy efficiently, safely, and with minimal environmental impact.

In addition to reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change, nuclear power can generate a lot of electricity without using fossil fuels.

Nuclear energy has a high energy density, which is one of its biggest advantages. Nuclear power plants can produce a lot of electricity with a small amount of fuel, so it's a cost-effective option. Nuclear power plants can also provide a stable baseload power source, which is essential for meeting the increasing energy needs of a growing population.

With electric vehicles, electricity demand is expected to rise. Electric cars can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, but they require a lot of electricity to charge. To meet this growing demand, nuclear energy can be a reliable and scalable source of electricity.

Nuclear energy has legitimate concerns, like waste management, safety protocols, and potential risks associated with accidents or misuse. Stringent regulations, ongoing research, and technological advancements are needed to ensure the safe operation and disposal of nuclear waste.

Consider the benefits and risks of different energy sources, including nuclear power, before making a decision. It also means combining nuclear energy with other renewable energy sources like solar and wind. We can harness the benefits of nuclear energy while diversifying our energy portfolio and ensuring long-term sustainability with this approach.

In conclusion, nuclear energy can be a cost-effective, reliable, and low-carbon solution for generating electricity, especially with electric vehicles on the rise. To mitigate potential risks, it's essential to address safety concerns and responsibly manage nuclear waste. In order to create a sustainable and resilient energy future, we need to balance all energy sources and their merits.