What is Colour Rendering?

Colour rendering index [CRI] is the standard scale to compare different light sources. It is derived from the visible light spectrum as detailed below.

The  light spectrum visible by the human eye  is less than 1.5% of the entire electromagnetic spectrum.

The following picture shows the  electromagnetic spectrum. Note the small section visible by the human eye.

Colour	Frequency	Wavelength
violet	668–789   THz	380–450   nm
blue	631–668   THz	450–475   nm
cyan	606–630   THz	476–495   nm
green	526–606   THz	495–570   nm
yellow	508–526   THz	570–590   nm
orange	484–508   THz	590–620   nm
red	400–484   THz	620–750   nm

The color temperature of the electromagnetic radiation emitted from an incandescent light bulb‘s light is over 97% thermal and less than 3% light, so its color temperature is essentially the temperature of the filament. Therefore incandescent lamps have a CRI of 100.

Many other light sources, such as fluorescent lamps, emit light primarily by processes other than thermal radiation. These sources are assigned what is known as a correlated colour temperature (CCT). CCT is the color temperature which to human colour perception most closely matches the light from the lamp.

The table below details a range of light sources, both natural and man-made. The table details Correlated Colour Temperature  CCT values in Kelvin [K] and Colour Rendering Index [CRI] values.

Light source	CRI	CCT (K)
Low-pressure sodium (LPS/SOX)	5	1800
Clear mercury-vapor	17	6410
High-pressure sodium (HPS/SON)	25	2100
Coated mercury-vapor	49	3600
Halophosphate warm-white fluorescent	51	2940
Fluorescent light tubes or Cool White/Daylight CFL	62	5000
Halophosphate cool-white fluorescent	64	4230
Tri-phosphor warm-white fluorescent	73	2940
Halophosphate cool-daylight fluorescent	76	6430
“White”   SON	82	2700
Soft White compact fluorescent light bulb	82	3000
Quartz metal halide	85	4200
Tri-phosphor cool-white fluorescent	89	4080
Ceramic metal halide	96	5400
Candle flame, sunset/sunrise	100	1850
Incandescent light bulb	100	3000
Incandescent/halogen bulb	100	3200
Vertical daylight, electronic flash	100	5700

The picture below shows what colour temperature looks like

Lighting design is a complex subject and there are many Industry experts to help guide you through the process.

The chart below gives details of colour temperature and typical applicable locations

I work with MHA Lighting  http://www.mhalighting.co.uk/  who are passionate about lighting and go the extra mile to deliver quality products as standard.

There is much more to lighting than how many Watts the lamp is. We are here to help you make the right choices for your needs. We will work through your requirements and ensure you have the best possible lighting available.

Contact us on 01782504503 or 07901380746 to discuss your requirements. You can also e-mail ecologic@gmx.co.uk to arrange a free lighting survey or to answer any questions you may have.

What is a Lumen?

What is a Lumen?

The quantity of light reaching a surface is usually the main consideration in designing a lighting system.

This quantity of light is specified by illuminance measured in lux, and as this level varies across the work surface ‘working plane’, an average figure [lumen] is used.

CIBSE Lighting Guides give values of illuminance that are suitable for various areas.

Location	Illuminance (lux)	Limiting Glare rating	Minimum colour rendering (Ra)
Restaurant, function room.	–	–	80
Auditoria	100	–	–
General lighting healthcare	100	19	80
Toilets domestic	100	–	80
Lounge domestic	100   – 300	19	80
Kitchens domestic	150   – 300	–	80
Bathrooms domestic	150	–	80
Archives store   office	200	25	80
Foyers	200	–	–
Self service   restaurant	200	22	80
Classrooms	300	19	80
Computer practice   rooms	300	19	80
Filing, copying etc.	300	19	80
Practice rooms,   dressing rooms	300	22	80
Reading lighting   healthcare	300	19	80
Reception desk	300	22	80
Sales area	300	22	80
Simple examinations	300	19	80
CAD work stations	500	19	80
Conference and   meeting rooms	500	19	80
Conference rooms	500	19	80
General office   lighting	500	19	80
Kitchen	500	22	80
Till area	500	19	80
Wrapper table	500	19	80
Technical drawing	750	16	80
Technical drawing   room	750	16	80
Examination and   treatment	1000	19	80

Lighting Levels are detailed  in the table below. Illuminance values are shown in Lux, together with typical locations.

Illuminance (lux)	Activity	Area
100	Casual seeing	Corridors, changing rooms, stores
150	Some perception of detail	Loading bays, switch rooms, plant rooms
200	Continuously occupied	Foyers, entrance halls, dining rooms
300	Visual tasks moderately easy	Libraries, sports halls, lecture theatres.
500	Visual tasks moderately difficult	General offices, kitchens, laboratories, retail   shops.
750	Visual tasks difficult	Drawing offices, meat inspection, chain stores.
1000	Visual tasks very difficult	General inspection work.
1500	Visual tasks extremely difficult	Fine work and inspection, precision assembly.
2000	Visual tasks exceptionally difficult	Assembly of minute items, finished fabric   inspection.

The lumen method is used to determine the number of lamps that should be installed for a given area or room.

Calculating for the Lumen Method

The lumen method is used if the light fittings (luminaires) are to be mounted in a regular pattern.

The luminous flux output (lumens) of each lamp needs to be known as well as details of the luminaires and the room surfaces [colours and textures of surface finishes].

Usually the illuminanceis already specified e.g. kitchen 300 lux,  office 500 lux etc.

The number of lamps is given by the formula:

where,

N    =              number of lamps required.

E    =              illuminance level required (lux)

A    =              area at working plane height (m²)

F    =              average luminous flux from each lamp (lm)

UF=               utilisation factor, an allowance for the light distribution of the luminaire and the room surfaces.

MF=              maintenance factor, an allowance for reduced light output because of deterioration and dirt.

Example

A production area in a factory measures 24 metres x 60 metres.

Find the number of lamps required if each lamp has a Lighting Design Lumen (LDL) output of 18,000 lumens.

The illumination required for the factory area is 200 lux.

Utilisation factor = 0.4

Lamp Maintenance Factor = 0.75

N             =              ( 200 lux x 24m x 60m ) / ( 18,000 lumens x 0.4 x 0.75 )

N             =              53.33

N             =              54 lamps.

Correct lighting design can have a huge effect on how a space is illuminated and the ambiance created. We can work with you by first taking accurate lux readings of your present installation. We will then identify what light levels you want and see what can be done to cost effectively meet your requirements.

Contact us on 01782504503 or 07901380746 to  discuss your requirements. You can also e-mail ecologic@gmx.co.uk to arrange a meeting or ask any questions you may have about lighting and general energy efficiency issues.

LEDs Beware of Pale Imitations

LED lighting is relatively new technology. I have tried many products and can confirm price does not always guarantee quality!

Last week I spent a day at MHA lighting, UK based LED lighting design and manufacturing Company based in Atherton, near Wigan.

I was really pleased to see the passion for excellence in all products supplied. The design and manufacturing process is all undertaken on one site. Every stage of production is followed by testing. MHA can provide a 5 year guarantee because every product has been tested at least 6 times before it’s dispatched from the factory. Excellent attention to detail, a real confidence boost for the installer and end user Customer.

MHA have experience in a wide range of applications from ships to deserts, they produce electronic products to withstand the most rugged environments. All products have a ambient temperature range from -35 C to + 55 C.

A 5 Year guarantee for all products is provided because MHA lighting understand the technology and design products to last.

Check out the MHA lighting website for details of Customer testimonials. http://www.mhalighting.co.uk/

Fresh produce looks better with good quality lighting

I am offering the MHA lighting range for all relevent applications in leisure, retail and healthcare applications. I will visit your site, undertake a free of charge detailed lighting survey and talk with you to establish your needs and see what can be done to save you money.

Product range displayed to best advantage with excellent lighting

Correctly designed and installed lighting can improve product shelf life, increase Customer confidence and drive up spending levels for your business.

We can look at a range of financing options so you can have improved lighting without increasing bottom line spending.

The following tables and photos give further details of the MHA Lighting range. MHA Lighting also offer bespoke design and production services. This is excellent for the retrofit applications as it may be possible to reuse existing enclosures to hold the LED lighting modules.

Please call 07901 380746 or 01782 504503 to discuss your requirements and to arrange a free lighting survey. You can also e-mail me at ecologic@gmx.co.uk.

MHA Lighting Product Range

QuarterLite – External

MHA Lighting’s award-winning QuarterLite combines high quality, uniformly distributed light with energy savings of up to 80%.

The entire range delivers clean, bright light to create the highest levels of illumination whilst slashing energy bills and CO2 emissions.

Our patented QuarterLite technology provides a light output of more than 400 Lumens using just 4 watts and has been designed as a direct replacement for fluorescent tubes and inferior LEDs.

The QuarterLite is the perfect solution for lighting internal and external advertising signs, illuminated company names and large format billboards.

All QuarterLites are supplied with a five year guarantee.

The    benefits:
Efficiency	Typically uses 80% less energy than conventional   back-lit solutions.
Zero Maintenance	Reducing costs and disruption of routine   maintenance – often at height.
Lifespan	A useful lifetime of 60,000 hours.
Light Distribution	Uniformly distributed glare-free light which   achieves LG Standards Lux Levels.
Directionality	Ghost-bands and flicker is eliminated.
Shock resistant	QuarterLites do not break or explode like   traditional fittings.

C Lite – External

MHA Lighting C70

MHA Lighting’s award-winning C Lite combines high quality, uniformly distributed light with energy savings of up to 80%.

MHA Lighting C100

The entire range delivers clean, bright light to create the highest levels of illumination whilst slashing energy bills and CO2 emissions.

MHA Lighting C140

The C Lite is the perfect solution for internal and external applications of heights ranging between 4 and 9 metres. It is a recessed behind a fascia of polycarbonate, acrylic or toughened glass and is easy to clean and maintenance free during its 60,000 hour lifespan. It is available in a range of wattage and sizes depending on the application.

External applications:
Tunnels
Canopies
Roads
Floodlighting

Internal applications:
Manufacturing
Warehouses
Retail sheds
Shopping malls
Concourses.

The light is delivered in 5500 Kelvin, 65CRI for precision working but can be delivered in a variety of colours to suit your requirements. The fittings also include intelligent controls such as ambient sensor or dimmer to further maximise energy savings.

The C Lite is designed using MHA Lighting’s patented LED technology and complies with all British Standards. The range is EU Energy rated A and achieves LG standard LUX levels. It typically replaces 150-400 watts low and high bay fittings

The    benefits:
Efficiency	Can achieve up to 80% energy savings compared to   traditional fittings
Zero Maintenance	Reducing costs and disruption of routine   maintenance
Lifespan	A useful lifetime of 60,000 hours.
Light Distribution	Uniformly distributed glare-free light which   achieves LG Standards Lux Levels
Reliability	C Lites are robust and do not break or explode   like traditional fittings
PSU Specifications	90-277 Volts AC DALI / DMX options available
No Heat	Perfect for air-conditioned environments or open   refrigerators

Specifications:
LED Type	Philips Rebel (ES)
Colour Rendering	65 CRI
Colour Temperature	Other colour temperatures are available upon   request
Product Type	Available with a glass, acrylic or polycarbonate   cover
Warranty	Five to seven years depending upon operating   hours
Housing Type	Surface mounted, chain suspended, recessed or   trunking mounted
Emergency Options	Integrated emergency options available in either   standard battery pack or 110 volts AC
Output Content	450mA
Operating Temperature	-35 to +55C

Variants:
Intelligent controls	Manual dimmers, PIR sensors, Photocells, voltage   optimisation, power conditioning etc.

RodLite – Internal

MHA Rodlite, the clever flourescent replacement

The RodLite GRP provides a direct low-energy LED replacement for fluorescent tubes – with all the benefits of LEDs.

The RodLite GRP’s patented LED technology creates glare-free uniformly distributed light and achieves LG Standards Lux levels – but typically uses 80% less energy. It is ideal for any internal or external application where fluorescent tubes are currently being used and is available with a variety of covers including prismatic diffusers to provide the same aesthetics as a fluorescent fitting.

For external applications such as multi-storey car parks, construction sites and subways the RodLite GRP is vandal-proof and is Ingress Protected. It is suited to heights of 2.4 to 8 meters and typically replaces 4,5,6,7 and 8 foot fluorescent tubes. The RodLite GRP will appeal to those customers who want to replace fluorescent tubes, whilst still achieving the same light output quality as well as the energy savings of LED.

RodLites can be used with power conditioning, voltage optimisation and intelligent controls such as dimmers, ambient settings and PIR sensors. The entire range is designed using MHA Lighting’s patented LED technology and complies with all British Standards. The range is EU Energy rated A and achieves LG standard LUX levels.

The    benefits:
Footnotes
Efficiency	Can achieve up to 80% energy savings compared to   traditional fittings
Zero Maintenance	Reducing costs and disruption of routine   maintenance
Lifespan	A useful lifetime of 60,000 hours
Light Distribution	Uniformly distributed glare-free light
Directionality	Light spillage and light pollution are removed by   using reflectors.
Shock resistant	RodLites are robust and do not break or explode   like traditional fittings
PSU Specifications	90-277 Volts AC DALI / DMX options available
Thermal Management	A heat sink design for reduced heat emissions for   temperature controlled environments.

Specifications:
LED Type	Philips Rebel (ES)
Colour Rendering	80 CRI as standard for internal applications and   65CRI as standard for external applications
Colour Temperature	3500 / 4000 / 4500 for internal applications and   5000 / 5500 for external applications
Product Type	Metallic, Acrylic and Polycarbonate
Warranty	Five to seven years depending upon operating   hours
Housing Type	Surface Mounted, Chain Suspended, Recessed,   Retrofit, Trunking Mounted
Ingress Protection	IP66 available upon request
Emergency Options	Integrated emergency options available in either   standard battery pack or 110 volts AC (to work with a back-up generator   system)
Output Content	450mA
Operating Temperature	-35 to +55C

Variants:
Retrofit design	This uses the existing housing and facia
Complete Unit	Identical to the Retrofit product but is recessed   behind its own cover and uses its own mounting brackets
Intelligent Controls	Manual dimmers, clocks, PIR sensors, Photocells,   voltage optimisation, power conditioning etc

Product   Code	LEDs Fitted	Wattage	Luminous Flux	Lumen Output [including inefficiencies]
C70   – C100 600mm x 600mm x 135mm
C70	60/120 lumen	82	7200 lumens	6120 lumens
C80	70/120 lumen	95	8400 lumens	7140 lumens
C90	80/120 lumen	107	9600 lumens	7968 lumens
C100	90/120 lumen	123	10800 lumens	8640 lumens
C140   1200mm x 600mm x 135mm
C140	120/120 lumen	164	14400 lumens	11952 lumens

Product   Code	LEDs Fitted	Wattage	Luminous Flux	Lumen Output [including inefficiencies]
600mm   x 600mm x 75mm
TiLite   20	16/100 lumen	24	1920 lumens	1327 lumens
TiLite   30	24/100 lumen	34	2400 lumens	2017 lumens
1200mm   x 600mm x 75mm
Double   TiLite 30	24/100 lumen	62	2400 lumens	2017 lumens
Double   TiLite 60	48/100 lumen	68	4800 lumens	4034 lumens

Product   Code	LEDs Fitted	Wattage	Luminous Flux	Lumen Output [including inefficiencies]
Rodlite   16	16/120 lumen	23	1920 lumens	1656 lumens
Rodlite   20	20/120 lumen	29	2400 lumens	1999 lumens
Rodlite   GRP 24	24/120 lumen	34	2880 lumens	2448 lumens
Rodlite   GRP 30	30/120 lumen	45	3600 lumens	3139 lumens
Rodlite   40	40/120 lumen	53	4800 lumens	3984 lumens
Rodlite   30	48/120 lumen	62	5760 lumens	4608 lumens

Energy: Energy Storage in our future

Energy: Energy Storage in our future.

Energy Saved by Insulating Heating and Hot/Cold Water Pipes

The energy saving potential by Insulating Heating and Hot/Cold Water Pipes is often overlooked. This article briefly details the key points and financial benefits.

There are many benefits to insulating heating and hot/cold water supply pipes. The values listed below give details of what can be saved.

Insulating pipework saves money

The data is courtesy of Armacell and based on Manchester UK for temperature figures.

Pipework   Type	Optimal   Insulation	Poor/No   insulation	Potential   Saving
Distribution	6.93%	17.73%	10.8%
Hot   Water	2%	4.5%	2.5%
Heating	4.75%	17.5%	12.75%
Ratio   of Heat Demand	12%	39%	27%

To make sense of these percentages we can assume that a home consumes £1000.00 worth of gas per year for heating/hot water. From the above data it is possible to save up to £270.00 per year by insulating all pipework.

It is expected that most homes can have all distribution pipework insulated for approximately £450.00. The pipe insulation has a minimum life expectancy of 30 years. So if gas prices did NOT increase for 30 years the following savings could be expected £7650.00 after 30 years, or -£180.00 in year 1, +£90.00 in year 2 and £270.00 for every year thereafter.

We can also factor in saving in wear on the boiler and circulating pump. If a boiler has a lifespan of 10 years, reduced use due to efficiencies could extend this to 12 years. This could reasonably save an additional £1500.00 over 30 years. Or put another way, in 40 years you would need to purchase one LESS boiler!

Looking at water quality, we have all experienced tepid water from the cold tap. This is not pleasant and wasteful, if a few litres/pints are drawn off until cold water is flowing. This is wasted heat [money] put into cold water which should not be there.

Please contact us to discuss your requirements or share your experiences of insulating pipework in your property.

Enegy Saving You Can Trust

Green Deal Ecologic improving your world without costing the earth.

Full details of the Armacell data: http://www.armaflex.de/www/armacell/ACwwwAttach.nsf/ansFiles/KeyTecHPEnergySaving207EN.pdf/$File/KeyTecHPEnergySaving207EN.pdf

Related articles

• Are You Paying Too Much for Hot Water? (greendealeco.wordpress.com)

Save Money With Energy Efficient Curtains and Blinds

Up to 80% of heat loss in a property can be through windows and doors. Thermally efficient curtains and blinds can have a huge effect on energy efficiency and temperature levels within your home. You could fit replacement windows or double glazing. However you have to decide what you can afford and what the cost benefit will be.

Thermally efficient curtains and blinds can add 10 – 15% to the cost of your curtains. However these will improve energy efficiency by up to 40%

Thermally efficient curtains contain the following layers

medium to heavy weight interlining.

Cotton/ wool material sandwiched between the front (face) fabric of your curtains and the lining fabric.

Thermal or blackout lining fabric

Thermal lining fabric has a thin, rubberised backing to reduce heat loss.

Blackout lining has an extra acrylic layer to prevent light passing through the fabric.

English Heritage found that heavy curtains reduced the heat loss by 41% (and lowered the u-value from 4.3 to 2.5). Secondary glazing to existing sash windows can cut u-values to 1.7

The following give details of cost savings upgrading from single to double glazing.

[Based on 4p per kWh using gas central heating]

House   Type	Window   area	1 Year saving	5 year saving	10 year   saving
Terrace	12.7m²	£119.62	£635.06	£1,371.27
Semi-detached	16.9m²	£159.17	£845.08	£1,824.76
Detached	23.7m²	£223.22	£1,185.11	£2,558.98

These results have been generated by the Glass and Glazing Federation Energy Saving Calculator.

The link below will enable you to check out the details for your home.

http://www.ggf.org.uk/energy-savings-calculator

This will help you decide if energy savings from installing double glazing will help you pay for the cost of installation.

We can offer advice on fitting and supply of energy efficient curtains and blinds.

Contact us; we are here to help you.

Green Deal Ecologic improving your world without costing the earth

Hard Water Treatment in Your Home

Water softening tablets cost about 23 pence each. That is adding 23 pence to every load in your washing machine. Sadly these treatments do not protect your iron, kettle, hot water immersion heater or central heating boiler.

We can fit a scale inhibitor to your water supply. It is a fit-and-forget addition to your home that offers total protection for 5 years. No maintenance is needed and all water using appliances are protected.

The chemical treatment of your washing machine will cost £40.25 per year, and all other appliances are not protected. We can protect your whole water system for £80.00. After two years you have your money back in savings from buying chemicals. The added benefit of protecting the other appliances must be worth £25.00 to £50.00 per year.

This would make you at least £370.00 better off after 5 years.

Contact us to discuss your requirements and arrange a home visit.

Green Deal Ecologic. We are here to help you save money and improve your quality of life.

Water Supply and Use in Your Home

A hot water cylinder can give 30 litres per minute of hot water, if the cold main into the property is only 10 litres per minute, then you will only get 10 litres per minute out to taps.

The simplest way to measure flow rate is to time how long it takes to fill a bucket to known volume. For example, if it takes you 30 seconds to fill a 10 litre bucket, the flow rate is 20 litres per minute.

The local water pressure is set by your water supplier. Legally they only have to guarantee 1 bar pressure and 9 litres/minute flow.

Approximate hot or cold water demand, flow rate litre per second and litres per minute

Outlet	Litres per second	Litres per minute	Capacity [litres]	Cost per instance of use Based on rate of £0.002458 per litre
Basin [spray]	0.05	3	10	2.5 pence
Basin [standard tap]	0.15	9	10	2.5 pence
Toilet cistern [pre-1993]	0.10	6	25	6 pence
Dual flush cistern [short flush]	0.10	6	2.5	0.6 pence
Dual flush cistern [long flush]	0.10	6	4	1 pence
Shower [100mm rose]	0.30	18	90	22 pence
Bath [tap]	0.30	18	150	37 pence

Using the tables of charges below you can see how much your water bills should be and budget for future use based on current charges.

The following details costs for water and sewerage, extract from United Utilities list of charges

Type of premises	Water	Sewerage	Total
Single person household	£105.57	£138.62	£244.19
bungalows	£225.11	£232.93	£458.04
Semi-detached houses and bungalows	£205.87	£217.75	£423.62
Detached houses and Other household premises	£157.78	£179.81	£337.59

Careful users can make much savings by having a water meter fitted. The details listed below will let you compare both methods of payment

Water meter rates

Water		Sewerage
Standing Charge	Price per m³	Standing Charge	Fixed charge	Price per m3
£30	£1.374	£15	£64	£1.084

The average bath takes 150 litres to fill. A cubic meter of water has 1000 litres. From the prices above the average bath has 20 pence worth of water. A five-minute shower uses about 90 litres of water which costs about 12 pence.

Don’t forget to add the cost of what goes down the drain! Bath waste water costs 16 pence to get rid of and 10 pence for a shower.

Now total costs for comparison are Bath = 37 pence = £259.00 per year* 5 minute Shower high flow rate = 22 pence** = £154.00 per year* 5 minute Shower standard flow rate = 12 pence** = £84.00 per year*

* based on 2 instances per day for 350 days per year

**Note the shower flow rate is based on at best 18 litres per minute. Many use about 10 litres per minute. This reduces the shower costs to 12 pence [7 pence for water and 6 pence for waste water to sewer]

Green Deal Ecologic Take control of your water don’t pour money down the drain

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Save Gas by Boiler Optimising and Servicing

We will match your boiler output to the size of your home. Many boilers use more gas to heat your home than is actually needed. Following boiler manufacturers guidance, we will match boiler output to your house size. Making your boiler cleaner, greener and saving you money!

Our boiler servicing will involve fully inspecting your boiler both inside and out. Some National Companies do the minimum to meet legal requirements. We are thorough, complete and check every part to ensure your peace of mind and safety. Our boiler servicing can take up to two hours to complete. We guarantee a first class service, our reputation depend on it.

SEDBUK was developed under the Government’s Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme with the co-operation of boiler manufacturers, and provides a basis for fair comparison of the energy performance of different boilers. The following link gives details of boiler efficiency.

http://www.sedbuk.com/

There is also a cost calculator so you can check how much future gas prices will cost you.

We will balance your boiler output to supply heating to all radiators in the most efficient way. With the correct chemical inhibitor treatment, correct pump speed and radiator valve settings it is easily possible to improve boiler efficiency by up to 20%.

Central Heating system improvements and Control Upgrade

The addition of a filter within the central heating circuit can improve boiler efficiency by up to 6% [£60.00 per year for a three bedroom house]. This can also extend the lifespan of the boiler, pump and radiators by five or more years. This could save you an additional £500.00 based on the replacement cost of a new gas boiler, pump or radiators.

Your home will get warmer quicker and the temperature levels will be better matched to the needs of your home. You will be more comfortable and saving money!

A £150.00 spend could save you £800.00 over five years. A much better rate of return than any Bank or Building Society could offer.

We offer a range of radiator valve options that let you control each radiator by timer control. This can save up to 20% of boiler operation, without heat level reductions in the rooms in use during day and night. A £300.00 spend could save you £200.00 per year; making you £700.00 better off after 5 years.

Contact us for further details.

Green Deal Ecologic Making your home warm and safe, without costing the Earth

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How Much Does Standby Cost Per Year?

The table below is a sample range of similar electrical products, showing details of power consumption. The plugged in working column is for average consumption. The maximum column gives details of the highest consuming product in the sample range. Many consume 100% to 150% more power than average. With that increase consumption the running costs can double or more. Note as shown in column 1 equipment just plugged in, not switched off at the socket will consume power, even when NOT on standby.

This picture shows a wide range of home electronic appliances that we rely on for many aspects of modern living. Careful use can save energy and money.
Wasting energy costs money, and after use you can’t get a refund.
Picture courtesy of Abt Electronics.

The two tables give details of home computer system power consumption and home music system power consumption.

Home Computer system

Item of equipment	Plugged in but NOT switched OFF at   socket outlet [Watts]		Sleep/standby [Watts]		Plugged in switched ON   charging/working [Watts]
Computer Desktop	2.84	£0.34	21.13	£2.50	73.97	£8.75
Computer Modem DSL	1.37	£0.16	5.37	£0.64	5.37	£0.64
Computer Monitor CRT	0.80	£0.09	12.14	£1.44	65.10	£7.70
Computer Printer [laser]	1.58	£0.19	1.70	£0.20	131.70	£15.57
Computer Scanner	2.48	£0.29	9.60	£1.14	9.60	£1.14
Computer speakers	1.79	£0.21	4.12	£0.49	4.12	£0.49
Total		£1.28		£6.39		£34.28

Home Music system

tem of equipment	Plugged in but NOT switched OFF at   socket outlet [Watts]		Sleep/standby [Watts]		Plugged in switched ON   charging/working [Watts]
Music Amplifier	0.27	£0.03	33.99	£4.02	39.16	£4.63
Music cassette deck	0.54	£0.06	4.53	£0.54	5.72	£0.68
Music CD player	5.04	£0.60	8.62	£1.02	9.91	£1.17
Music Radio	1.12	£0.13	9.48	£1.12	9.92	£1.17
Music Stereo	1.66	£0.20	6.80	£0.80	4.11	£0.49
Television CRT	2.88	£0.34	3.06	£0.36	2.99	£0.35
TV Cable decoder	17.50	£2.07	24.65	£2.92	29.64	£3.51
TV DVD recorder	0.00	£0.00	28.35	£3.35	31.37	£3.71
Total		£3.43		£14.13		£15.71

The interesting difference is that the computer system consumes 80% less power between stand by and switched on.  However the music system consumes only 10% less power between stand by and switched on.

The maximum column gives values for the highest tested item from the product range. These consumption values can be up to 200% more than average; costing up to three times more to run than the energy efficient products.

Check out the links below for more details.

http://www.sust-it.net

http://www.energystar.gov

The full list below gives further details of appliance energy consumption in the home.

Item of equipment	Plugged in but NOT switched OFF at socket outlet [Watts]		Sleep/standby [Watts]		Plugged in switched ON charging or working [Watts]
Computer Desktop	2.84	£0.34	21.13	£2.50	73.97	£8.75
Computer Laptop	8.90	£1.05	15.77	£1.86	44.28	£5.24
Computer Modem DSL	1.37	£0.16	5.37	£0.64	5.37	£0.64
Computer Monitor CRT	0.80	£0.09	12.14	£1.44	65.10	£7.70
Computer Monitor LCD	1.13	£0.13	1.38	£0.16	27.61	£3.27
Computer Printer [inkjet]	1.26	£0.15	1.81	£0.21	4.93	£0.58
Computer Printer [laser]	1.58	£0.19	1.70	£0.20	131.70	£15.57
Computer Scanner	2.48	£0.29	9.60	£1.14	9.60	£1.14
Computer speakers	1.79	£0.21	4.12	£0.49	4.12	£0.49
Fax machine	0.00	£0.00	6.10	£0.72	6.42	£0.76
Game console	1.01	£0.12	23.34	£2.76	26.98	£3.19
Microwave oven	0.00	£0.00	25.79	£3.05	1433.00	£169.47
Music Amplifier	0.27	£0.03	33.99	£4.02	39.16	£4.63
Music cassette deck	0.54	£0.06	4.53	£0.54	5.72	£0.68
Music CD player	5.04	£0.60	8.62	£1.02	9.91	£1.17
Music Radio	1.12	£0.13	9.48	£1.12	9.92	£1.17
Music Stereo	1.66	£0.20	6.80	£0.80	4.11	£0.49
Power tool charger	0.00	£0.00	0.00	£0.00	29.53	£3.49
Telephone caller ID	0.00	£0.00	1.27	£0.15	1.27	£0.15
Telephone cordless	0.98	£0.12	1.90	£0.22	2.81	£0.33
Telephone Fax Machine	0.00	£0.00	6.10	£0.72	6.42	£0.76
Mobile phone charger	0.00	£0.00	0.20	£0.02	3.68	£0.44
Television CRT	2.88	£0.34	3.06	£0.36	2.99	£0.35
TV Cable decoder	17.50	£2.07	24.65	£2.92	29.64	£3.51
TV DVD recorder	0.00	£0.00	28.35	£3.35	31.37	£3.71
Total		£6.29		£30.39		£237.66