Press & Media

Computers and other home appliances can be big energy-users

January 5, 2003
Column No. 03-01

There’s been a lot of publicity in recent months on some new computer viruses that are affecting both home and office computer systems. One factor contributing to the increase in these viruses may be the fact that computers are often left on all night long, even when no one is using them or even in the home or office.

This brings up the related question of how much energy is used by home appliances and equipment in general, and by computers in particular.

Danny Parker of the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) points out that the best strategy for resolving a variety of problems is to shut down machines that are not used at night. Turning off a computer for the 16 hours of the day it is unused results in just a third of the available time when the system could be contaminated – and assuring that any problems would occur during normal office operating times or generally daylight times when technicians are on staff or available for assistance.

That’s a good strategy for helping control unwanted viruses, but it’s also importance since the energy factor can be a significant one as well. Each computer that is left on draws about 50 watts of power when idling. Count in a screen – even one with a screen saver – and the number jumps to 125 watts. Parker noted that the new plasma screens growing in popularity are even bigger energy guzzlers, drawing more than 150 watts of power when in use.

If you have a home computer that is not on a network or otherwise needs to be on all the time, consider turning it off when not in use. It’ll not only cut down on opportunities for hackers to get into your system, but will also cut down on wasted energy. It may just be a little bit, but all these little bits add up to a fairly significant number at the end of the year.

This highlights once again the importance of buying energy-efficient home appliances, especially those earning the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star designation. It’s obvious that an efficient refrigerator is essential, for example. The refrigerator and freezer are the major home appliances that must be operated 24-hours a day, seven days a week. The energy savings from these appliances can quickly pay back the extra cost of the more efficient models, making them smart investments. But it also highlights how cumulative energy use can hit your pocketbook every month.

Take a look around your home at the appliances you use on a regular basis. Do you have an electric coffee maker, for example, that you use daily? How about a toaster oven? How often do you wash and dry clothes? What other appliances get a lot of use in your home? Think about how many appliances you have and you’ll realize how many things contribute to your monthly power bill.

I doubt that many people buy a home computer specifically because that model is energy efficient. Things like computer speed, memory and other features certainly stand out as main reasons to buy. But it sure wouldn’t hurt to make energy use a factor in all appliance-buying situations you make. Whether you’re buying a big-ticket item that you use frequently or something that is used once in a while, you can chip away at energy bills by making sure that you look for the more energy-efficient models.

 

Written by Ken Sheinkopf
E-mail: sheinkopf@fsec.ucf.edu

NOTE TO EDITORS: Ken Sheinkopf is Associate Director of the Florida Solar Energy Center. For more information on energy efficiency and renewable energy, visit the Center’s web site at www.fsec.ucf.edu.