---

Energy Consumption: Domestic Appliances in Standby Mode

Answer

A wide range of appliances, including televisions consume energy while they are switched on but not in use, either in standby mode or simply waiting to be used. While we do not have detailed information available about all appliances that have a standby function, the Government's Market Transformation Programme (MTP) has information relating to the' energy consumed in standby for those appliances that account for the large majority of energy consumed in UK households. The MTP broadly divides standby power consumption for appliances into the following categories: Consumer electronics (e.g. televisions, digital set-top boxes and video recording equipment)—approximately 420 Gwh per month; Home computing equipment (e.g. personal computers, printers and display screens)—approximately 25–40 GWh per month; Domestic cooking equipment (microwaves and electric ovens) approximately 70GWh per month; and Office Equipment (e.g. computing equipment, photocopiers and fax machines)—approximately 40–60 Gwh per month. There is also further energy consumption from white goods such as washing machines and dishwashers which are switched on awaiting use or after they have completed their wash cycles; consumer electronic equipment using external power supplies (e.g. domestic portable telephones) that continue to consume energy when plugged in but not in use; and domestic personal computer equipment where the stand-by facilities are not properly enabled. Taken together, these sources of consumption may bring the overall figure to around 760 GWh.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

493; 672 c187-9WA

Session

2005-06

Related items

Whitty, Lord
Thursday, 3 March 2005
Written questions
House of Lords

Subjects

Consumption Electrical goods Energy Electronic equipment

Contains statistics

Yes