Power smart with electronics

Core competencies

Communications

• Connecting and engaging with others

Thinking

• Creating thinking: Generating and incubating
• Critical thinking: Questioning and investigating

Personal and social

• Personal awareness and responsibility: Self-regulating
• Social awareness and responsibility: Contributing to community and caring for the environment

The activities also connect to a variety of grade-specific curricular competencies and content in a variety of subjects including Science.

History of electronics

Use of electronics over the last 50 years has risen significantly. In the 1970s, most homes had only one television, with an average screen size of less than 30 inches. Between 1970 and 1990, the number of television sets per Canadian homes doubled. Screen sizes have increased by 50 per cent since 1970, going from 30 inches to around 46 inches. In terms of energy use in the 1970s, most homes used about 290 kilowatt hours a year (kWh/year) to power home electronics. In the 1990s, that number went up to around 485 kWh/year. Today it’s up to 960 kWh/year, just to power electronics like computers and consoles. The good news is that there are some simple things we can do to save energy with our electronics.

Standby or vampire power

BC Hydro is warning customers that spooky energy suckers may be lurking in the home. A recent BC Hydro survey found that vampire power is on the rise, and most British Columbians own electronics and appliances that are sucking up unnecessary amounts of power.

These ‘energy vampires’ include electronics or appliances that continue to draw power, even when turned off, and can account for up to 10 per cent of a household’s electricity bill. The average B.C. home has more than 25 devices that draw vampire power, including everything from televisions to gaming consoles.

Many of these devices are old electronics and appliances that remain plugged in, haunting the house. For instance, half of those surveyed admit to still having a cassette player in the home, while 30 percent still own a VCR. See Standby power for more information.

Here’s how to pull the plug on vampire power in the home:

• Unplug little-used products – Disconnect seldom used guest TVs and turn game consoles off when not in use. A set-top box and video game console left plugged in cost about $36 a year.
• Use a power bar with a timer – Plug electronic devices into a power bar with a timer to shut them off automatically.
• Consider which device when streaming – A game console can use up to 40% more energy than other streaming devices. Consider using a smart TV, laptop, or tablet.
• Look for the ENERGY STAR® label –  When purchasing home electronics, look for products certified with the ENERGY STAR label. They use less electricity and typically have built-in power-saving features.
• Disable computer screen savers –  Activate sleep mode on your computer instead of using a screen saver that uses twice as much energy.
• Investigate smart plugs and switches – They help manage your energy use by giving you the ability to conveniently turn off lights and devices using your smartphone. You can also schedule time for electronics and lights to automatically turn off.
• Choose your device wisely –  Play computer games and browse the Internet using a laptop or tablet instead of a desktop computer to save energy.
• Use an advanced power bar – Also known as a power strip. Devices can be plugged in for maximum energy savings and comprise of 1. always on outlets, 2. primary outlets which detect when device is turned off, and 3. secondary outlets that automatically turn off when primary outlet is turned off. See Power strip. These also protect your devices if there is a power surge.
• Recycle old electronics – Return old electronics to a return-it depot to save up to $30 per year in standby power costs.

Young people can take action

Electronics are on the rise so we can empower students with knowledge on how to use our electronics smartly and not waste energy. Youth can take action to save energy and be part of a culture of Power Smart youth in British Columbia.

• Assess students’ ability to analyze the pictures, share ideas and listen to each other.
• Assess students’ participation and cooperation during the ‘this’ and ‘that’ game.
• Assess students’ understanding of ways our appliances use energy and how we can reduce the impact.