Feeling Drained?

A reader writes the Green Guide:

Does turning off appliances that use "phantom energy" do them any harm? I'm especially interested in what this does to the life of computers and televisions—any electronic gadgets.

Martha S.,
Bradford, PA

The Green Guide responds:

This is a concern we've often heard, so we appreciate your question.

If you can use a remote to turn it on (as in the case of a TV) or if the digital clock is still counting away (as on a coffee maker or cable box), your electronic device is still consuming "phantom energy," needed to keep electronics booted up and ready to turn on at the push of a button. All that wasted energy accounts for 8 percent of a household's annual electricity use and can cost you $80 per year. The only way to make sure a device isn't sucking needless energy is to pull the plug out of the wall—the "off" button usually just sets it on standby.

So, you ask, what is the effect on the device after all this plugging in and unplugging and flipping on and off? Nothing, say experts from Energy Star and Consumer Reports.

In fact, Andrew Fanara, from Energy Star's product development team, says that letting a computer completely cool down by spending some time unplugged may be beneficial for the device. Computers have fans that keep them cool when plugged in, even when in the off position. "Having a product on could lead to overheating, which could lead to overstressing the product when the fan is constantly running," Fanara says.

If you're worried about damaging a high-priced plasma or LCD television set by turning it off completely, Fanara says that those products are designed to be shut off. "Frankly, having a big-screen TV running 24/7 is a bad idea," he adds. "It's not unusual for a big-screen TV to use hundreds of watts, so most manufacturers design them to shut off."

Maria Vargas, also from the Energy Star program, says that at the rate technology advances, you're likely to opt for an upgrade before the appliance goes kaput. "As much as I hate to say it, a lot of these products get replaced before it's ever an issue," she notes.

Even representatives we spoke to from Consumer Reports say the organization has yet to research the effect of unplugging devices because their researchers didn't seem to find it a concern.

The only products Fanara warns about are certain satellite dishes and boxes. He explains that they are designed to be on, constantly picking up a signal, and that the provider may charge a fee if you shut down the box. Satellite boxes—the kind you can still hear humming in the background, even when they're "off"—can use as much energy as your refrigerator. Before subscribing to a satellite service, ask the provider if they'll charge you should you shut down the equipment to save energy. Fortunately, Fanara says that Energy Star is working with the industry to develop a satellite device with a low-power mode.

"What it all comes down to is a residual myth," Fanara said. "Consumers shouldn't worry about shortening an appliance's lifespan by unplugging it, and as far as energy-saving goes, every little bit helps."

To make it easy for yourself, plug all your appliances and peripherals into a power strip that you can shut off when you're finished. Smart Strips power strips will shut off all of an appliance's peripherals when you turn off the main appliance ($41.95; www.smarthomeusa.com).