I recently had a conversation with someone who claims their electric bill was lower because they kept all appliances (tv, radio, a/c, lights, etc...) running all day versus turning them off in the morning and then turning them back on in the afternoon/evening. They claimed it costs more money to turn a light on and then off versus keeping it on. I've heard something similar in the past. Is this true or a myth?
2006-09-03 14:28:55 · 5 answers · asked by nkneedeep32 1 in Consumer Electronics ➔ Other - Electronics
Electrical companies charge by KWH. KWH is the amount of power consumed (in kilo watts) multiplied by number of hours used.
If you have anything turned on longer, you consume that much more. Things like computers, it may not make that much difference as they go into sleep mode. But you are still consuming more energy by keeping it on.
Air conditioners and refrigerators may be the exceptions. If you turn them off, the temperature will rise, and to bring it down, they will run continuously for long time. This is in contrast to, if you kept it on, it will cycle on and off, and possibly stay off longer than on.
Lights are clear cases of longer you keep it on, more power you use type "appliances."
Some appliances have higher start up current than stay-on current. But, there aren't that many things that use that much current to make it worth keeping it on all day long.
2006-09-03 17:37:13 · answer #1 · answered by tkquestion 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I feel this is mostly myth. There are certain things that do better being left on rather than turned on and off at need but they are few. Even there, it depends on how long you are going to be out of the room or house. Heat or air conditioning may be better left on if you are only going to be gone a few hours. This is because it can take some period of time for the heat or air conditioning to get back to where it is supposed to be. During this time it is running constantly rather than cycling on and off. If you are gone for days, you will save money by turning it off, or at least set back. Lights, TV, radio, and other things that don't require time to get back to the correct settings can be turned off and on as needed. The surge of turning devices like this is nowhere near enough to warrant leaving them on for over 10 minutes when not in use.
Look at it this way, if something is left on for 8 hours (over night) when it is not needed, over a year that would be 2,920 hours. For a 100 watt lamp, this is 292 kilowatt hours. Multiply this times your electric rate, say 15 cents per kilowatt hour, and it costs you $43.80 per year. Now multiply this by the number of things you leave on. It adds up.
2006-09-03 17:50:07 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It relies upon. a mild bulb's resistance is going up as is receives hotter. for this reason, there is more effective modern-day flowing once you first turn it on than say, 5 seconds later. So that is more effective extreme priced to run initially for that very short era of time. that is more effective of problem to pay for the positioned on and tear on some products, like mild bulbs, turning them on and rancid. in case you turn it on and rancid each and every 10 minutes (incandecent or established), you're reducing its existence ahead. So, in case you'd be away for decrease than a couple of minutes, go away it on. otherwise turn it off. An air conditioner is yet another tale. in case you allow the homestead temperature advance 15 ranges via turning your a/c off all day, it ought to fee more effective to run it sufficient to get the temperature again down then in case you assert set the temperature up 3 ranges. actually, turn off some thing you're not any more going to apply in the subsequent 15 minutes, except your warmth or a/c.
2016-12-06 08:21:41 · answer #3 · answered by triola 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes and No. for devices such as newer tv's computers,etc.. it shouldn't make a diffrence. and with lights it all depends on what kind of light bulbs you are using. Appliances are probably one of the worst ones for startup power.
2006-09-03 15:48:32 · answer #4 · answered by sexylittlemisstweetybird83 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
thats what they say .i just dont know how its possible . i think only think i dont know for sure but i beleive that they are meaning not to be flipping the switch the way kids flip them on and off , my other thinking is if you are going to be there and need the lighting ,dont be flipping off and on going from room to room. flipping them off andon and keep reapeating it off and on over and over.
2006-09-03 14:45:13 · answer #5 · answered by deerolmind 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋