How much energy do you actually waste...?

Question

leaving the Cell Phone Charger plugged into the wall? (without a cell phone connected to it).

My dad always complains about me leaving the lamp on when he always leaves his charger on the wall with no phone connected to it.

its an compact flourescent lightbulb

great answer dana!

Answer 1

Me? None, I unplug mine.

In general - a charger uses about 8 watts while a lamp uses 25-100 watts, depending on the lightbulb.

In terms of money, you're wasting about $7 per year if you leave your charger plugged in all the time.

In terms of energy, you're wasting 70 kilawatt-hours per year.

If your dad leaves his charger plugged in all the time, let's say he's got the phone connected and charging up for 18 hours per week, then he's wasting 8 watts of power over 150 hours (168 hours in a week), or 1.2 kilawatt-hours (kWh).

If you have a CFL in your lamp, it probably uses about 25 watts, so your dad is wasting the equivalent of 52 hours of extra lamp time per week (about 7.5 hours per day).

If you have a regular 60 watt incandescent bulb, then he's wasting about 20 hours per week, or 3 hours per day.

In short, your dad's charger is probably wasting a lot more energy than you leaving the lamp on. You should turn the lamp off and tell him to unplug his charger.

Answer 2

It does waste energy, but not as much as some would think. With no load attached, it doesn't conduct as much current. The transformer has a high enough impedance that it doesn't make much difference. It does make some difference, but not much. To test, check the temperature while charging. Let it cool and check the temperature of the transformer with no load. If it's cooler, then less current and power are being used proving that it is using less energy....but still using energy. Go ahead and unplug it.

Answer 3

Transformers use power even if there is no load attached. But an 8 watt charger may use .8 watts w/ no load. They are all different. so I can not give you the real # would have to test. Lamps left on even if efficient is not effective. Conservation is not efficiency-we need to do both. have fun

Answer 4

The only wasted in my house is the light whenever my sisters moans like crazy my mom, father or myself are forced to turn it off every midnight.

Answer 5

to be honest i use up alot of energy because i leave my computer on like 24/7

Answer 6

I don't waste any. All of my usage is delibirate.