Why are standby power losses a problem?
While individual device standby losses may seem insignificant, when you multiply the number of households, by the number of devices in a household and the amount of time each spends in standby, the problem adds up quickly. It is estimated by International Energy Agency that 5 to 15% of household electricity consumption worldwide is wasted in standby mode. In the US, each watt of energy costs approximately $1 to $1.5 per year. The Lawrence Berkeley National Lab estimates that standby waste costs US households over $5 Billion in electricity a year. According to the Department of Energy, the amount of standby energy used per year in the US is equivalent to 26 average sized power stations! As the popularity of home electronics and number of new appliances with electronic controls and features increase, this problem will continue to grow.
