The lights went out, the house was quiet and nothing seemed to run. However, electricity is quietly flowing through your home plug. This hidden drainage is known as phantom energy.
This electricity, also known as vampire energy, comes from keeping devices connected when they are not in use. This can range from household items such as phone chargers and microwaves to televisions and gaming consoles.
According to Alexis Abramson, dean of the Columbia School of Climate, this wasteful electricity accounts for around 5% to 10% of household energy use, depending on factors such as the age of the equipment.
“Phantom energy… depends on the type of system you have and how much it has improved over time,” Abramson said.
For example, you have a TV connected to the internet Smart Wake Function According to Matt Malinowski, director of the US Council’s Building Program for an Energy-Efficient Economy, they will be able to interact with phones and other devices, allowing other devices to consume up to 40 watts of energy in the day the TV is normally turned off. That’s almost 40 times more than a regular TV.
“The good news is there were new and new efforts to tackle this,” Malinowski said.
He said supporters and manufacturers came up with a voluntary contract to reduce energy smart TV usage when in standby mode.
Phantom energy contributes Climate change Because the power drawn by unused devices may increase Electricity demand From a source that emits emissions that warm the planet. Aidan Charron, associate director of Global Earth Day, said that while the amount may seem small when people look at individual utility bills, the environmental fees for phantom environmental energy are important when multiplied at homes across the country.
“It’s just a little step of pulling out what’s not in use,” Chalong said. “It saves you money and saves emissions in the long run.”
What you can do
When it comes to energy emissions, some of the main perpetrators are electrical appliances that are constantly connected to electricity, such as those with watches.
“Do you really need a microwave to tell the time, or can you remove the microwave when you’re not in use?” Chalong said.
Unplugging the device may be a burden, but it has contributed greatly to reducing emissions.
Charron recommends starting with small steps, such as unplugging the charger for your phone or other devices once the battery is fully charged. The next step is to move it to another appliance, such as unplugging an unused lamp.
If you’ve disabled the sound too much, you can also check your settings regularly, disable any additional features you’re not using, and get some energy help. For example, smart TVs often have optional features that can be turned off, so the TV is not listening to signals from other devices during standby mode.
“If you’re not using it, you’re not making any profit, but you’ve paid the price to increase your energy use,” says Malinowski.
How individual behaviors make a difference
Individuals tend to take more Sustainable ActionYou will learn what you can do to efficiently reduce household emissions, such as unplugging devices. According to Jonathan Gilligan, a professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Vanderbilt University, these actions could contribute to a reduction in US emissions by about 20% per year, equivalent to around 450 tons (408 metric tons) of carbon dioxide.
He said that all options individuals take in their daily lives are increasing, mainly because the US population directly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
“The question is what we can do to try and address this,” Gilligan said. “Phantom Power is part of this.”
The less footprint an individual has, the more likely they are to follow, and ultimately, according to Gilligan, those behaviors are likely to turn into social norms.
“This is where psychologists discover that this effect is real. If people see other people taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, they want to do that,” Gilligan said.
When it comes to everyday choices, individuals may think that what they are doing is not really making a big difference. But what they tend to overlook is how they affect others around them by choosing to live a more sustainable life.
The impact may be much stronger than many people notice, Gilligan said.
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