Energy conservation may seem to be in full swing in Korea but a new report shows that the country wastes US$370 million a year in so-called 'stand-by power.' This refers to the electric power consumed when an inactive electronic product remains plugged in.

The Korea Electro-Technology Research Institute said Thursday that the average household wastes around 210 kilowatt-hours a year on stand-by power alone, which amounts to 7 percent of their total annual power consumption.

Research shows the average household uses 24 electronic products, 19 of which waste power while on stand-by.