DIY Fact Sheet DIY fact sheet
Reduce your appliance standby Reduce your appliance standby One of the easiest power consumption power consumption ways to save energy is to switch appliances off at the power point when One of the they areways not in to use. This is easiest save because appliances energy toeasiest switch left One ofisthe appliances off at the often on in ‘standby’ mode ways power to savepoint energy is still consumewhen electricity. to switch theyappliances are not inoff use. In fact, around 10% of is point because at theThis power when household electricity appliances left onis usage they are not in use. This is ‘standby’ due to standby in modepower because appliances left often still consume consumption. on in ‘standby’ often electricity.mode In fact, still consume electricity. around 10% of ne of the easiest ways to save energy is to switch appliances off at the In fact, household electricity around 10% of power point when they are not in use. This is because appliances left on usageelectricity is due tousage in ‘standby’ mode often still consume electricity. In fact, around 10% ofhousehold household electricity usage is due to standby power consumption. standby power is due to standby power consumption. Turning appliances off at the wall can be quite difficult for power points that are consumption. in hard to reach places. Without seeing these power points, it’s also very easy to
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forget they are even on. There are a few steps that you can take to make turning off standby quick and easy.
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One of the easiest ways to save energy is to switch appliances off at the ne of the easiest ways to save energy is to switch appliances off at the you power What point when theyneed are not in use. This is because appliances left on power point when they are not in use. This is because appliances left on Theremode are aoften number products availableIntofact, helparound you reduce standby power conin ‘standby’ stillof consume electricity. 10% of in ‘standby’ mode often still consume electricity. In fact, around 10% of sumption. They are available at hardware and electronics stores and on-line. They household electricityusage usageisisdue duetotostandby standbypower powerconsumption. consumption. household electricity include: Turning appliances off at the wall can be quite difficult for power points that are >toDirect switches yoube tothese manually turn wall outlets on and off in hardappliances reach places. power points, it’s also very easy toby moving Turning off at Without the- allow wall seeing can quite difficult for power points that are theare switch aThere betterare location. (FIGpower 1) forgettothey even to on. a few steps that you can it’s takealso to make turning in hard reach places. Without seeing these points, very easy to forget they are even on.easy. There are a few steps you off canattake make turning off standby quick and > Timer switches - automatically turnthat on and set to times. They are available off standbyas quick and easy. digital or mechanical devices with 24 hour or seven day cycles. (FIG 2)
What you need
Figure 1. Figure
> Master / slave power boards - one ‘master’ outlet automatically turns the
What need of products available to help you reduce standby power There you are a number
There are a number products to help reduce stores standby power conconsumption. Theyofare availableavailable at hardware and you electronics and on-line. sumption. They are available at hardware and electronics stores and on-line. They They include: include: nn Direct switches - allow you to manually turn wall outlets on and off by moving the > Direct switches - allow you to(FIG manually turn wall outlets on and off by moving switch to a better location. 1) the switch to a better location. (FIG 1) nn Timer switches - automatically turn on and off at set times. They are available as > Timer switches - automatically at set day times. They(FIG are 2) available digital or mechanical devices turn with on 24 and houroff or seven cycles. as digital or mechanical devices with 24 hour or seven day cycles. (FIG 2) nn Master / slave power boards - one ‘master’ outlet automatically turns the ‘slave’ > Master / slave boards - one appliance ‘master’ outlet automatically turns outlets on orpower off when the main is turned on or off. (FIG 3) the nn
Remote switches - allow you to turn power points on and off using a remote control. (FIG 4)
Figure 1
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‘slave’ What yououtlets need on or off when the main appliance is turned on or off. (FIG 3) > Remote switches - allow you to turn power points on and off using a remote Direct switches control. (FIG 4) Direct switches are easy to use, simply plug them in and place the button where you want to use it. These devices come in the format of regular ‘on/off’ How to install buttons which can be wall or desk mounted, or as a foot-pedal operated switch Directboard. switches or power Direct switches are easy to use, simply plug them in and place the button where you want to use it. These devices come in the format of regular ‘on/off’ Timer switches buttons which can be wall or desk mounted, or as a foot-pedal operated switch Timer switches (Figure 2) are most suited to appliances that are used regularly and can or power board. easily be forgotten about. Heaters, pumps, outdoor lighting or a drinks fridge switches onlyTimer needed on the weekend are a few examples. Just set the timer (following switches most suited to itappliances thatpower are used regularly and can the Timer specific productare instructions), plug into the usual point then plug be forgotten about. Heaters, pumps, outdoor lighting or a drinks fridge the easily appliance in. only needed on the weekend are a few examples. Just set the timer (following the specific product instructions), plug it into the usual power point then plug Master / slave power boards the appliance in. Master / slave power boards (Figure 3) can be installed at computer or entertainment system set /ups where multiple appliances are used together. Plug the power Master slave power boards board into the usual wall outlet and plug main appliance (theor computer or Master / slave power boards can be the installed at computer entertainment TV) system into theset ‘master’ socket. Then, plug the other (printer, modem, ups where multiple appliances areappliances used together. Plug the power board etc) intointo the the usual wall sockets. outlet and plug the mainyou appliance (the computer or speakers ‘slave’ Now, whenever turn your computer TV) into thethe ‘master’ Then, the other (printer, on or off, all of ‘slave’ socket. appliances willplug be turned on orappliances off automatically atmodem, etc) into power the ‘slave’ sockets. Now, yousocket turn your computer the speakers same time. These boards also have anwhenever independent for appliances or off, all on of the ‘slave’ appliances will be turned on or off automatically at thaton need to be continuously. the same time. These power boards also have an independent socket for appliances that need to be on continuously. Remote controlled switches Remote switches (Figure 4) can be used for power outlets that are in hard to reach Remote controlled switches Remote cancontrolled be used for power outlets thatnormal are in power hard tooutlet reach places. Plugswitches the remote power outlet into the places. Plug the remote controlled power outlet into the normal power then plug the appliance into it. Follow the specific product instructions on howoutlet then plug the appliance it.idea Follow the specific product to use the remote. It’s also ainto good to mount the remote on instructions the wall next on to how to use the remote. It’s also a good idea to mount the remote on the wall the light switch so that you can easily switch off the power whenever you leavenext to the light switch so that you can easily switch off the power whenever you leave the room. the room.
Turning appliances off at the wall can be quite difficultappliances for power points that wall are incan hard Turning off at the betoquite difficult forWithout power seeing points these that are in hard to reach places. power points, reach places. seeing these power it’s also veryWithout easy to forget they are even on.points, it’s also very easy to forget they are even on.
Prepared by Steplight on behalf of The Hills Shire Council. Reproduced with the permission of The Hills Shire Council.
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Figure 2.
Figure Figure 3.
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Figure Figure 4.
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