Is it more expensive to turn an elctrical outlet off and then on versus keeping it running all the time?

Question

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?

Answer 1

It's mostly a myth. Fluorescent lighting, because it is so energy-efficient, may need to be off for a while (a few minutes to an hour) before there is energy savings. Most other home electric appliances will save energy when turned off ANYTIME they are not in use.

You can prove it if you're a big enough nerd to try this: turn off your TV, while leaving all other appliances EITHER on or off, and go to your electric meter with a watch. Get a 10-minute baseline (it helps to have a beer on hand while you're doing this), recording the starting and ending readings. If the numbers are moving slowly, you may need to count revolutions of the little spinning disk. Then go fire up the darn TV and find out how much more energy is used in the following 10 minutes. Finally, with the TV still on, get a reading for the third 10 minutes. I predict the power surge in the "Power up" segment will exceed only very slightly the "steady state on" period. Let me know how it comes out--I need to go and straighten my sock drawer now.

Answer 2

The someone you had the conversation with is delusional.

In some very rare cases it is more economical to leave the power on then to cycle it off for a short time. Some office buildings, for instance, will leave their florescent lights on over night because the normal work day consists of two shifts and then the cleaning crew comes in - if the lights were turned off, they would only be off for two or three hours in any 24 hour period and the start up power when they are turned back on would negate any savings they might realize.
But when it comes to appliances, TVs, radios, and lights, especially heavy draw cycling appliances such as an air conditioner - it's absolutely insane to think that you are saving electricity by leaving them on all day when they would normally be off.
In answer to your question - YES, it's a big, fat myth!

Answer 3

MYTH!
anything left on will consume power, anything not on will not consume power (simple)
It is also a myth that leaving your computer on 24/7 is cheaper, but alot of people do not realize some software programs still run in the background until you turn off your computer (this will slow down all hardware and software.)

Answer 4

They lied. Starting a car takes energy. Turning on an appliance takes little, outside of the initial energy required by ovens and fridges to change the internal state. The flipping of the switch is just a simple change of electrons, and will not cost you much money.

Answer 5

Hi. The devices that use power when off (in standby mode) will save power if unplugged or switched. Devices with a high current drain on start up (motors etc.) will use more power if they are constantly started and stopped. In general unplugging is a "green" thing to do.

Answer 6

Usually it's cheaper to turn off all electricly operated items.

Answer 7

It costs more to turn flourescent lights on and off, not incandescent.

Answer 8

i think this question is like what came first the chicken or the egg ?