Standby Power at 7.3% of Total Household Consumption in 2005

The total power consumption due to electronics in standby mode in the average Japanese household during 2005 was estimated at 308 kilowatt-hours, or 7.3 percent of the total consumption, according to a report released by the Energy Conservation Center, Japan (ECCJ). The survey was conducted at the request of the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

When compared with a previous survey in 2002, the standby loss in 2005 represented a decline of 30 percent, while the proportion of total consumption decreased from 9.7 to 7.3 percent. This decrease was attributed to (1) a decrease in the ownership of audiovisual apparatus and telephone sets that require relatively high levels of standby power, (2) a reduction in the average standby mode duration due to the spread of energy saving practices among consumers, and (3) diffusion of lower standby-loss products.

If all households were to use appliances with better awareness of energy conservation, standby losses may be cut by 10 percent or so. Future replacement of current appliances with lower standby-loss products would result in additional reduction of about 35 percent.

Required to further reduce standby loss are the continued efforts of manufacturers to develop lower standby-loss products and changes in the behavior of those using such products. For this purpose, the report identifies the importance of information services to inform consumers about energy saving functions when they buy and use such products, as well as the power savings of turning off products using main power switches.

http://www.eccj.or.jp/index_e.html

Posted: 2006/07/12 05:56:11 AM
Japanese version