Power Saving Potential
There was a discussion in a Blue Witch post and comments about what you save if you charge your phone in the car, also how much equipment uses on standby.
One of the difficulties is that the rating of equipment doesn’t really tell you how much it is drawing in use. It’s been niggling away at me for a while and while doing an energy audit in the sty, I’ve acquired a AC power meter. The results are interesting, although much as I thought. (I’m basing costs on £0.06p/Kwh electricity costs, costs in pence)
- To charge my Nokia phone: 0.25p
- To leave my Nokia charger on standby 24/7: 3p per annum (max)
- To leave a 14″ Sony TV on standby 24/7: 50p per annum
- To leave an LG 17″ LCD TV on standby 24/7: 400p per annum
- To leave a VCR on standby 24/7: 350p per annum
- To leave a VCR ON 24/7: 2000p per annum
- HiFi & TV on standby 24/7: 600p per annum
- Cost of Doorbell transformer: 50p per annum
So an interesting result. As you can see, you can make meaningful savings by not having some equipment on standby, but others make less difference. Curious.
I’m considering renting out the power meter for relatively low cost, with the proceeds to go to my daughter’s fundraising for a trip. Let me know if you are interested.


