Living Off The Grid - Phantom Loads
http://www.great-articles.com/articles/165815/1/Living-Off-The-Grid---Phantom-Loads/Page1.html
Andrew Oke
Andrew Oke is very interested in renewable energy.He has 16 years experience living off the grid, and has completely built his own renewable energy system. Visit his website at Living Off The Grid By Andrew Oke
Published on 09/25/2008
You've probably heard the term before "phantom load", but what exactly is it? A phantom load is any appliance that draws electricity even when their supposed to be off. In some households this can account for up to 15% of your total energy bill.
You've probably heard the term before "phantom load", but what exactly is it? A phantom load is any appliance that draws electricity even when their supposed to be off. In some households this can account for up to 15% of your total energy bill.
What kind of appliances contribute to phantom loads? Any appliance that has a light or clock on it while it's "off" is contributing to phantom load. Examples of this are: satellite receiver, computer, microwave, DVD player etc.
What can I do about phantom loads? Well, the simplest answer to curing your phantom load is to cut off the power when you're not using it. By using a power bar or a timer that's plugged into the socket you can completely turn off the devices and only power them when you're going to use them.
Although phantom loads do contribute to being energy efficient, you also need to look at your home as a whole. What things could you change? For many people they start by using CFL's (compact fluorescent lights), turning their fridge and air conditioning down, and start monitoring their energy usage. If you can find what appliances you can make more efficient you can likely save upwards of 30% on your electric bill.
This doesn't mean that you'll have to buy new appliances or gadgets either. For example, you can cut down how much energy your refrigerator uses by simply making sure that it is full at all times. Even if it isn't filled with food put a couple of jugs of water into it. The insures that a higher percentage of energy (coolness) will be held inside the fridge when you open the door. Don't believe me? Put jugs of water in your fridge for 24 hours and then open the door for one minute and close it. Before you'd probably have heard it turn on, but not anymore.
It'l little things like learning what a phantom load is and how to conserve energy which most people have no idea how to find. Once you learn it you realize that "hey, this is simpler than I thought". It happened to us, and I'm going to make sure that it happens to you. We were once as clueless as most people are, but we took the plunge-- not knowing anything-- and made it through. Our motto is "if we can do it, then so can you". So the next time someone talks to you about energy efficiency you'll be able to educate them.
What kind of appliances contribute to phantom loads? Any appliance that has a light or clock on it while it's "off" is contributing to phantom load. Examples of this are: satellite receiver, computer, microwave, DVD player etc.
What can I do about phantom loads? Well, the simplest answer to curing your phantom load is to cut off the power when you're not using it. By using a power bar or a timer that's plugged into the socket you can completely turn off the devices and only power them when you're going to use them.
Although phantom loads do contribute to being energy efficient, you also need to look at your home as a whole. What things could you change? For many people they start by using CFL's (compact fluorescent lights), turning their fridge and air conditioning down, and start monitoring their energy usage. If you can find what appliances you can make more efficient you can likely save upwards of 30% on your electric bill.
This doesn't mean that you'll have to buy new appliances or gadgets either. For example, you can cut down how much energy your refrigerator uses by simply making sure that it is full at all times. Even if it isn't filled with food put a couple of jugs of water into it. The insures that a higher percentage of energy (coolness) will be held inside the fridge when you open the door. Don't believe me? Put jugs of water in your fridge for 24 hours and then open the door for one minute and close it. Before you'd probably have heard it turn on, but not anymore.
It'l little things like learning what a phantom load is and how to conserve energy which most people have no idea how to find. Once you learn it you realize that "hey, this is simpler than I thought". It happened to us, and I'm going to make sure that it happens to you. We were once as clueless as most people are, but we took the plunge-- not knowing anything-- and made it through. Our motto is "if we can do it, then so can you". So the next time someone talks to you about energy efficiency you'll be able to educate them.