Game consoles can drive up utility bills if left on
JANESVILLE — All that money homeowners have saved this summer by not running their air conditioners could be wasted if they’re leaving video game consoles turned on.
The biggest offender? The Sony PlayStation 3, which if left on around the clock consumes as much electricity each year as two new refrigerators, according to the Natural Resource Defense Council.
Alliant Energy says owners of the 2007 version of PS3s can save $124 a year by turning the console off after each use.
“When you look at the amount of energy consumed, especially by the PS3, it’s mind blowing,” said Steve Schultz, an Alliant spokesman. “Turn it off when you’re done with it, and you’ll see considerable savings.
The NRDC said the 2007 Microsoft Xbox 360 isn’t much better when it comes to around-the-clock energy use. Left on all the time, it costs $103 to run, $31 less than the PS3.
The stingiest video game is the Nintendo Wii, which costs about $10 to power 24/7 or just $3 when not in use.
Schultz said televisions, DVD players, VCRs, computers and cell phone chargers can draw power when not in use. It’s prudent, he said, to turn them off when you can, but plugging and unplugging a plasma TV isn’t all that convenient.
With many other appliances, simply flipping the off switch cuts all power to the unit.
Many of the popular video game consoles are used for much more than video games. They’re also used to play movies, and the NRDC estimates that half of all owners leave their machines on all the time.
The organization is encouraging manufacturers to build sleep modes into the systems that will idle the systems after a specified period of inactivity. That will save energy and reduce utility bills, the council says.
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Aug 25, 2009 at 4:20 p.m.
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If you really want to save money, check-out the kil-o-watt reader from the library, my family did.
Aug 25, 2009 at 3:42 p.m.
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To second Opinionsforfree, if you really want to track how much appliances use you should really invest in a kW meter. You can find them cheap online (I bought a Kill-a-watt, possibly the same one linked to previously, for $20 off Amazon marketplace). The only down-side is that they can't monitor anything 220 (unless you get an expensive one suited for that) such as laundry dryers, some AC, or anything hard-wired.
I'm curious as well, ihavealife, what is this house test through Aliant?
Aug 25, 2009 at 2:51 p.m.
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Thanks, Bubs. Is SmartStrip a brand name? I have a Monster Power, Power Center, AV 700, is this the same as a SmartStrip?
Aug 25, 2009 at 2:34 p.m.
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gfan,
I'm not sure if it the clock will reset on a flat screen if it is unplugged but I would assume so. I believe that many SmartStrip-style devices have one or two outlets that will allow devices that require a small amount of power when off to get that power. That would allow a person to cut power to their PS3 or DVD player when off but allow power to trickle to their TV or DVR if needed.
Aug 25, 2009 at 2:30 p.m.
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For some of you who are really interested in learning how much power anything uses in your house hold should invest in a http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stor...
Aug 25, 2009 at 2:15 p.m.
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If a flat screen TV is unplugged, do the channels and clock etc. have to be re-programed?
Aug 25, 2009 at 12:28 p.m.
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nebo, I think the point is that people do not realize how MUCH it costs them. This whole issue of vampire appliances did not exist a few years ago. The first was televisions in the 1970s and 1980s, but now there are so many computerized devices in a home that people can't keep track of them all.
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Energy issues are all "out of sight, out of mind" for many people until the bill comes. You can't SEE the electricity the way you can, say, see a dripping tap. I'm glad the Gazette is continuing this series. Even if it's something that's obvious in some ways, it's good to be reminded of it, because now maybe you'll remember to do something about it.
Aug 25, 2009 at 11:18 a.m.
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Good article but I know a lot of people already know the PS3 uses the most electricity. I felt the title made the article seem really stupid, no offense. Leaving game consoles on will drive utlity bills up...well...duh? Leaving anything on will increase your electricity use im pretty sure?
Aug 25, 2009 at 10:21 a.m.
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I shut mine off after using it. why wreck it by leaving it on all the time
Aug 25, 2009 at 9:37 a.m.
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With all the "Going Green" out there you would think that somone would have enforced electronic makers to have an energy saving product
Aug 25, 2009 at 6:01 a.m.
Aug 24, 2009 at 8:37 p.m.
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Can you provide a link to that "house test"?
Aug 24, 2009 at 8:13 p.m.
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I took the Alliant house test and was really shocked when it said ..It costs $440.a year if you leave your computer on 24/7.With 4 computer's running in our house and tv's always on we started turning them off and have seen a difference on the bill.It cost less to run the pool filter than computer's or tv's....go figure.
Aug 24, 2009 at 6:50 p.m.
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If you buy Smart Strips, then electronics won't draw power when they are not powered on.
http://www.smarthomeusa.com/shop/smart-e...
Aug 24, 2009 at 6:08 p.m.
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I set my PS3 to auto-standby after 2 hrs of inactivity, in case I forget to shut it off.
Aug 24, 2009 at 6:06 p.m.
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If you heat your house with electricity you can have all your stuff turned on during the heating season without losing money. Even with gas heat the money isn't totally lost. It's when you have your air conditioner on that you get burnt twice. You pay for the appliance's electricity, and the electricity to remove the heat from the appliance.
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