The article discusses the hidden energy costs of standby devices in Greek households, emphasizing their significant cumulative energy use and financial implications.
The article highlights the often-overlooked energy consumption associated with standby devices, such as televisions, decoders, modems, and chargers, that continue to draw power even when turned off. This standby consumption, while seemingly small on an individual basis, can accumulate significantly when considering multiple devices over time.
In Greece, the cost of electricity for households currently ranges from €0.21 to €0.25 per kilowatt-hour. The article estimates that the total standby consumption for a typical Greek household can reach between 250 to 300 kWh per year, which translates to a substantial amount of wasted energy that goes unnoticed on the electricity meter. This highlights the inefficiency of leaving devices plugged in, even when not in active use.
The financial implications are clear: at an average cost of €0.23 per kWh, the standby consumption could lead to an annual cost ranging from €57.50 to €69.00. This serves as a wake-up call for consumers to be more mindful about unplugging devices when not in use, potentially leading to energy savings and reduced electricity bills.
