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Many people believe their digital appliances are not using power when turned off, but often a small current of electricity is needed to keep the appliance in standby mode. Thus 15 watts of electricity is continuously running through a DVD player although the power switch is turned to the "off" position. Desktop computer screens and stereos need more than 10 watts, and home air purifiers require 4 watts to be on standby.
According to Korea Energy Management Corporation electricity spent as standby power occupies 11 percent of the total consumed in Korean households every year. That comes to W500 billion (US$1=W1,009) and 850,000 kilowatts per year -- enough to power the city of Incheon for a year.
To stop electricity waste from next month, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy plans to enforce the use of a yellow label on products that spend more than 1 watt in standby mode.
On the other hand products that satisfy the government's standard can get a "saves energy" tag, letting customers know they will save energy and money if they buy it. Currently the system is applied only to devices that consume a lot of standby power but it will be extended to all electric products in two years.
New products already exist to deal with the problem. One is a special timer socket appliances can be plugged into to be automatically turned off completely at designated times. Power strips allow people to turn off multiple appliances at the same time.
And of course simply unplugging is always an option.
Arirang News.
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