Anyone purchasing new electronics equipment should consider how much energy it consumes. At the top of the list are plasma TVs, devouring an average 600 kilowatt hours per year, the amount of energy needed to run 15 coffee machine for a whole year.

Stand-by losses in Germany’s households and offices amount to some 22 billion kilowatt hours per year, costing more than four billion euros. Unlike so-called white goods, e.g. refrigerators, washing machines, and dishwashers, consumers pay less attention to how much energy brown goods consume, that is, TVs, stereos, and computers. There is no obligatory labelling about energy consumption on entertainment electronics. A power-saving sticker issued by the Action ”No-Energy” identifies equipment that has either no or very low stand-by loss.

Key factors in consumption are not only the technology but also how it is used, as the length of use and number of entertainment devices is on the rise. The ⁠UBA⁠ therefore recommends paying attention to this power-saving sticker when buying new goods, using multiple outlet strips with an ”off” switch, and unplugging power adapters (e.g. for mobile phones) once recharging is complete. Remember to switch equipment off regularly, for about 30-40 percent of power consumption in computers with flat-screen monitors owes to the monitor itself.  It already pays to switch the monitor off if it is not in use for more than three minutes.

UBA will be in Hall 7.2 a, Stand 101.