THE GREEN ENERGY BLOG

Energy Q & A

Is there ANY consumer device that uses more energy when you turn it on than when it’s already on?

No, not in practical terms.

Does it take more energy to turn on a computer than to leave it on?

No. There’s no meaningful power surge when you turn on a computer. Turning the computer off ALWAYS saves electricity. Of course, you can also use the power saver feature.

Does it take more energy to cool a house in which the AC has been off all day, than to keep the AC running at, say, 85 degrees during the day?

No. Cooling a hot house down at the end of the day always takes less energy than leaving the AC running all day, even if it’s running on a high setting

Does it take more energy to turn on a light than to leave it on?

No. There’s no power surge when you turn on a light. Turning the light off ALWAYS saves electricity, even if it’s for just a second.

I heard that an electrical wiring problem can lead to electricity “leaking” out of the wires and into the abyss, causing a person to pay for electricity that they don’t use.

Nearly every message I’ve ever received that begins with, “I heard that…” is wrong. This one is no different. It’s easy to check: Turn off everything in your home (and unplug things that use standby power, like TV’s and microwaves), then go look at your electric meter and notice it isn’t spinning any more.