Off mode power consumption: the most hidden part of standby losses - An analysis of German households

Panel: Panel 4: Sustainable Energy Use in Buildings

Authors:
Clemens Cremer, Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research
Ulla Bode, Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research

Abstract

Households are strongly affected by the rapid development of electrical equipment. Some of the new appliances will increase the variety like e.g. scanners, devices for power line communication or mobile phones. The influences of this development on energy consumption and especially on stand by power use in German households have been examined. In order to identify standby losses, a detailed definition of the different existing operation modes was carried out. 53 types of electrical appliances have been analysed in the different operation modes in the years 1997, 2000, 2005 and 2010. The resulting data shows a growing standby power use corresponding to the overall rising number of electrical appliances until 2005. The technical progress stops the rise of standby power consumption in the period 2005 to 2010. However innovative equipment may show a different characteristic development. Analysing the different modes of operation showed that half of the examined types of appliances use power while being in the off mode (off mode losses).