How much energy do I really save if not all appliances are on all the time?

Anyone who knows me from my blog “All About Health” knows that coffee is, let’s put it this way: a very high priority in my life. I couldn’t get out of bed without thinking about the first cup of the day, I’m sure of that. One push of a button, wait a few seconds – aaah! I love the sound, the smell, the first sip. And that she is ready for me in the morning. And it stays that way for the rest of the day. Because if I need coffee, I need it now, not in a few minutes. For me, the caffeine program is what cigarettes are to other people: depending on the situation, I need it to calm me down, to think or just to take a break.

This is how it works with a laptop: when I was out the day before, it’s usually off. Then I don’t bother starting it up after I get home, answering very important emails, if any, on my cell phone. When I was in the home office, it usually stayed on standby overnight. I’m the type of person who always has to have everything done right away. Not necessarily out of a sense of duty, but because I’m afraid something else will be forgotten.

(You can’t imagine how many times during the day I walk into a room, stand there for a while, think about what I really wanted, and walk out.)

If I can think of something else in the evening, I prefer to do it right away. To be honest, I don’t really know why I’m constantly leaving the printer on standby. I don’t print more than three or four times a day. Just habit I guess. Or laziness.

Speaking of habits: I grew up in a Mediterranean household. The television often serves as background noise. I must confess that I still occasionally do this when I am home alone. Otherwise I don’t watch TV that often (if I do, then Netflix and Co.) and the teenagers don’t anyway. They are now at an age where you don’t know they are home until they prowl around the house looking for food. Or if you hear noises from their rooms. Then they are chatting or playing.

And when it’s quiet, they sleep, study (you can also have certain expectations as a mother) or watch series. Anyway, when they’re home and not eating, sleeping or reading (my daughter really does, I’ve seen it!) they sit in front of some screen. I think it’s unlikely they’ll ever completely disable the associated devices. I never asked them to do it because I don’t do it myself. Because I haven’t really thought about it until now. And because I didn’t think I could save a ton of electricity by turning those appliances off for a few hours. Am I wrong?

Mihaela Grigorie, expert for electronic devices at the Swiss Federal Energy Agency:

“Habits are hard to change, but sometimes it’s worth it. Depending on its type and age, a 24-hour standby device consumes between 4 and 60 kWh per year. At an electricity rate of 25 cents per kWh, that is one to fifteen francs per appliance. If you turn off the devices after a certain time, you can save a lot of power. Tip: By combining the home office (laptop, printer, router) or home entertainment devices (TV, home cinema system, game console) in a common, switchable outlet or multi-socket, unwanted standby consumption can be eliminated with the touch of a button. button are avoided. knob . If the power strip is plugged into a smart outlet, it can even be turned on and off via the app at programmable times. That way you don’t forget.”

Let’s face it: what do you think of your electronic devices? Is your home office always ready, or do laptops and the like have to be closed at some point? Tips and questions are welcome in the comment columns.

Source: Blick