"Standby power - often called vampire, phantom or leaking electricity - is the electricity consumed by an appliance when it's not performing its primary function. Around 11% of Australian residential electricity use is attributable to standby power.


When you turn appliances off with the remote rather than at the switch, an appliance will go to 'standby power'. Likewise, when you've turned your computer off and you see a blinking light on the monitor, it is using standby power.

In most households, TVs, video and DVD players, computers and stereos are on standby over 60% of the time. Often the standby power serves no useful function or operates at excessive levels for the background task being performed (such as running a clock).

So when you've finished watching a video or TV or listening to a CD, switch the unit off completely (preferably at the wall). You'll save anywhere between 20 and 85 kg of greenhouse gas by doing this. Likewise, when you've finished with your computer for the day turn it completely off.

Turn off your televisions, VCRs and stereos at the power point when not in use and save between 20 and 85 kilograms of greenhouse pollution per year.

GREENHOME FACT:
Appliances on standby use on average a constant 87 Watt per household, or 760 kWh per year. This costs you around $100.

You can measure the amount of standby used in your home by turning everything off (the way it is normally turned off) and then reading the meter."

"ENERGY STAR is an international standard for energy-efficient electronic equipment. It was created by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1992 and has now been adopted by several countries around the world, including Australia. In Australia, Commonwealth, State and Territory Government agencies are cooperating through the National ENERGY STAR Program to encourage the use of energy-efficient equipment at home and in business. ENERGY STAR is a key part of the standby strategy.

In August 2000, all Australian jurisdictions agreed to:

"...pursue efficiencies in standby power consumption of energy-consuming products, through support for the International Energy Agency's One -Watt program, and endorse its incorporation into the...program of work."

Australia was the first nation to publicly state that it would pursue the 'one-watt' target under the banner of the IEA standby power initiative. This aspirational target sought to raise awareness about excessive standby amongst not only suppliers but also product purchasers. It was meant to demonstrate to suppliers both in Australia and internationally that excessive standby should be redressed through better design practice and other strategies. It was meant to demonstrate to consumers that Australian governments were acting to reduce excessive standby on their behalf."