Standby Power
Standby power is the energy used by an appliance while it’s plugged in but not being used. Appliances in standby mode continue to draw a significant amount of power. It is estimated that in New Zealand standby accounts for 5 per cent of the total household electricity use or $100 million per annum.
EECA commissioned a report to investigate Australia’s standby strategy and is now pursuing the recommendations in that report.
They include:
- that New Zealand develops a strategy to reduce energy waste through standby electricity consumption
- that the strategy covers the same appliances as the Australian strategy
- that some appliances with insignificant consumption be excluded from the scope of the strategy.