Computers major drain on household electricity
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Desktop computers have been found to be the most power-hungry appliances in one out of every four households in Finnish apartment buildings.
According to a fresh Finnish study by the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, desktop computers consume an average 500 kWh of electricity a year, which is the equivalent of a refrigerator-freezer. If the computer is kept on all the time, it uses about as much energy as an electric sauna that is heated twice a week.
Average annual power consumption of laptops is just 25 kWh.
A broadband modem consumed an average of 50 kWh a year, and a printer used 20 kWh. Computer accessories easily amounted to about 100 kWh of consumption in a year.
The information is based on real measurements taken in real households.
These are the first results of a broader study on electricity consumption habits of Finnish households. The full study is expected to be completed in the summer.
Other appliances did not yield as unexpected results as the computers. However, entertainment electronics proved to account for an unexpectedly high proportion of household energy usage.
In one family of four taking part in the study, television sets, DVD players, digital decoders, and other home entertainment appliances consumed more electricity than the total of four refrigerators and freezers in their apartment.
However, there are considerable differences in consumption habits of individual households.
In monetary terms, electronics can account for hundreds of euros in a family's annual energy budget. At the average price for electricity, 2,700 kWh costs about EUR 300. The largest measured use of home entertainment equipment, 1,100 kWh, raises electric bills by EUR 125 a year.
To cut back on unnecessary use of electricity, experts advise consumers to simply turn off all devices when they are not in use. The use of the "standby" mode should also be avoided, as it also consumes electricity 24 hours a day.
For digital decoders which do not have an off-button, an extension cord with its own on/off switch is a handy device to have.
Helsingin Sanomat
