According to the Consumer Electronics Association, the average American household uses 24 electronics items; this can make it difficult to manage energy use. A home energy management system integrates a smart thermostat, power sockets, and power strips into a single energy control system. Plug in your electronics to see how much energy they use, then manage your electronics, lights, and air conditioning from a touch-screen display in your home, or remotely through a mobile app or online.
Many electronics draw a small amount of power even when they’re switched off; these are known as phantom loads. Stop energy waste by plugging related items into smart power strips, and then shut them off with one switch. Power strips are easy to use. Use them in a kitchen for small appliances, in your home office for computer equipment, and in your living room or for your TV, DVD player, and game console.
Looking for another way to make your home an energy-efficient one? Consider replacing standard electronics with ENERGY STAR® certified models. Start with the most-used electronics in your home, such as your computer or television, to recover your investment more quickly. No more skill required than to find the ENERGY STAR® label on the box, and rest assured you’re saving energy and money.
The best way to save power used by computer monitors is setting them to go into sleep mode or manually turning them off when not in use, which saves more energy than using screen savers. Turn off a monitor if you’re going to be away for 20 minutes or more, and shut down the computer, too, if you’ll be away for two hours or more.
When purchasing consumer electronics, choose those that use rechargeable batteries, which are more cost-effective than disposable ones. When disposing of any type of battery or electronic, always read the manufacturer’s instructions or check with your city’s trash removal department for safe disposal options. More consumer electronics now use rechargeable batteries, which can reduce landfill waste in addition to being more energy-and cost-efficient.
