Many electronic devices like the PS5 switch to standby mode. But what does that mean and why should it be avoided? MeinMMO explains what it entails.
From the microwave to the PS5 and all the devices you have at home: There are dozens of devices at your home that silently consume power. This is because many devices switch to standby mode after use. Essentially, you are paying for electricity that you are not using.
MeinMMO explains what standby mode is, what you should know about it, and how you can save electricity.
Standby mode is offered by almost every electronic device
What does standby even mean? Standby means nothing more than “Always ready.” When you turn off a device, such as your TV, a light still glows, indicating that the TV is in standby mode.
The advantage is simple: You save yourself the annoying wait until your device is turned on. Because as soon as you reach for your remote control, you can turn the TV back on within seconds without having to wait for it to start.
Theoretically, every electronic device you have plugged into a socket but are not currently using switches to standby mode. And there can be a lot of devices:
- Gaming consoles and your gaming PC.
- Household appliances like microwaves and rice cookers.
- The TV and various accessories like speakers, Blu-ray players, and more.
- Power adapters for charging phones, laptops, and other devices.
You can usually tell if your device has switched to standby by a light that is glowing, your microwave showing a time, or your PS5 still faintly glowing. This alone indicates that power is still flowing.
Standby mode costs about 100 euros annually
Why can this be a problem? Every device consumes electricity in standby mode, and the amounts differ significantly. The more devices you leave in standby mode, the higher the silent power consumption. In the end, this burdens both the environment and your wallet.
The large Australian comparison portal Canstar explained, for instance, that the electricity consumption in standby mode could cost an average household between 100 and about 160 euros per year.
Can this be measured? Yes, it can! Our recommendation: Grab a power meter for the socket and check all devices that are plugged in and unused at your home. This way, you can quickly get an overview of what your electronics consume. You can get a power meter for about 10 euros at a hardware store or on Amazon.
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CSL - Energiekostenmessgerät Stromkostenmessgerät Stromverbrauchszähler - Standby... | Zu Amazon |
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Reduce electricity consumption in standby mode – Here’s how
You can reduce power consumption in standby with a few simple tricks. MeinMMO presents three easy methods to help lower consumption.
Turn off devices at the wall
As trivial as it sounds, the simplest and safest way is to turn off the devices directly at the socket. This can be done either conveniently through a power strip or by unplugging the cable from the socket. There are also timer switches (so-called time switches) or smart devices that can automate the shutdown for you.
Buy energy-efficient devices
If you notice a very high standby consumption but cannot or do not want to turn off your devices completely, it might be worth looking for energy-efficient devices to replace the old ones.
Change or turn off standby settings
Many modern devices now offer an integrated feature that allows you to adjust the standby mode. You can either turn it off completely or set when it should be used.
If you disable certain functions, such as automatic updates on the PS5 in standby, you can additionally reduce power consumption in standby mode.
Save even more electricity: It may also be beneficial for you to completely turn off your PC. Reasons why you should give your PC a break at night can be read directly on MeinMMO: 5 reasons why you should turn off your computer at night
