High-priced amusement: The expense when the charging cord remains lodged in the outlet. - The financial implications when a charging cable remains plugged into an outlet.
Keeping your charging cables plugged in after the device is fully charged is a common habit, but it can cost you money and contribute to energy waste. TVs, receivers, and other electronics in standby mode are often the biggest power guzzlers in households, wasting up to 50 euros per year on a screen that's "off but present." It's tempting to leave our charging cables plugged in for convenience, especially when our devices are often charged in the same location (like by the bed, desk, or living room).
However, this convenience comes at a cost. When we leave our fully charged devices plugged in, they still consume power due to the transformers inside the chargers. The exact amount of power consumed varies depending on the device. For example, a fully charged MacBook Air with its power adapter consumes between 6 and 8 watts in operation, but this increases when the battery is drained. The iPhone charging cable, similarly, consumes 7 watts when charging an empty smartphone.
So, what happens when we unplug these charging cables? Well, they consume no electricity since they are not connected to a power source. This is the lowest possible energy consumption state for charging cables. The higher energy consumption states are when the device is charging, which primarily involves the charger and device, not the cable itself. During standby mode (when the device is plugged in but not charging), chargers might consume a small amount of 'vampire' power, often less than 1 watt, due to the charger itself, not the cable.
While the energy consumption in standby mode is minimal compared to active charging, it still adds up when we consider all our devices. A study by the Swedish power producer Vattenfall found that an unused mobile phone charger can consume around 2.5 kilowatt-hours of power per year. If we were to remove all our charging devices from the power outlet, it would save 82,450 tons of carbon dioxide, not accounting for other unused devices. Plus, leaving devices plugged in can pose an unnoticed fire hazard, especially with faulty devices.
In conclusion, unplugging your charging cables when they're not in use is a simple habit that can save money and energy, reduce carbon emissions, and minimize the risk of fire hazards. It's a small step we can all take towards a more energy-efficient lifestyle.
Even in standby mode, chargers associated with other devices, such as TVs and receivers, might consume 'vampire' power, contributing to energy waste within households. This minor consumption can accumulate significantly over time, costing households approximately 'angeschlossenes' 50 euros annually. Therefore, it's advisable to unplug these devices from standby to reducin this 'vampire' power consumption.
