What You Don't Know About Your Home Electronics Can Cost You

By Kari Kylo, BC Hydro Power Smart

Home electronics are a luxury British Columbians enjoy on a daily basis. But many of us don't know that our computer monitors, battery chargers and other electricity-dependent items continue to use power even when they're turned off. The result: millions of dollars worth of electricity are wasted every year. The amount of energy home electronics consume in BC in one year alone is equal to the electricity needed to power Whistler-Blackcomb resort for the next 43 years.

There’s a simple solution.

Unplug and switch off your home electronics at the power source. This includes unplugging your cell phone, camera, portable video game and other battery chargers once charging is complete. Remember that, even when a device is removed from a charger, the charger itself continues to use electricity—phantom power—if you leave it plugged in.

Battery chargers aren't the only culprit. A computer left on for 24 hours a day can add up to $120 to your electricity bill each year. If all families in BC that normally leave computer monitors on all day turned their screens off when not in use, enough energy would be saved to power every arena in the entire NHL for 62 seasons.

Consider replacing your old electronics with ENERGY STAR-labelled TVs, VCRs, DVD players and computers. When turned off, they automatically enter sleep mode, consuming 60 to 70 per cent less energy than non-certified models.

To learn more about Power Smart and Power Smart’s residential programs, such as mail-in rebates, the refrigerator buy-back program, ENERGY STAR windows, PST exemptions and Power Smart New Homes, visit www.bchydro.com/powersmart.