GLOSSARY · BUDGETING, SPENDING & SAVING
Standby power
Electricity that devices draw while switched off or idle, to power clocks, remote-control receivers, network connections and chargers. Each device draws little, but because the draw never stops, the total across a home shows up on every bill. A plug-in power meter measures it, and switched power strips or settings remove most of it.
Also called: phantom load, vampire power, idle power
FORMULA
Yearly standby energy (kWh) = standby watts × 8,760 hours ÷ 1,000
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CHAPTER · EXPENSE REDUCTION & COST AUDITING · STRATEGIESCutting Utility and Phone BillsSOURCES
- Standby Power. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy.