Energy efficient use of appliances with chargers
Kitchen appliances with chargers include devices such as handheld vacuum cleaners, which have a built-in rechargeable battery. Some appliances have a separate charger, but others are mounted permanently on the wall and are always plugged in.
Switch off at the mains or remove the charger
The key advice on appliances with chargers is to switch them off at the mains or remove the charger when you have finished charging the appliance.
This applies particularly to appliances with transformer type chargers which often have higher standby consumption. These chargers are typically large and heavy and get hot when charging.
Ask about standby consumption before you buy
When you buy appliances with chargers which need to be plugged in most of the time, such as a cordless phone, it is a good idea to check that it does not use a lot of standby power. Preferably, this should not exceed 1 watt when the phone is plugged into the charger without being in use.
Meter your consumption with a SparOmeter
Borrow or buy a SparOmeter to keep track of the power used by your appliances. This accurate meter measures the power consumption in both the on and standby modes.
Page last updated 06.10.2008