Unused charging cables still draw power from the wall outlet. - Unused charging cables still draw electricity from the power outlet.
In a recent study, various charging devices, including a universal USB-C charger from Anker, an older iPhone charging device, and one for a MacBook Air with an M1 chip, were tested to understand their power consumption habits.
The testing revealed an interesting fact: charging devices consume power even when not in use. This is particularly true for charging devices without a mobile device attached. The older iPhone charging device was found to consume the most power among the tested devices when idle. On the other hand, the charging device for a MacBook Air with an M1 chip consumed the least power.
A power meter was used to measure the power consumption of these devices. For instance, the iPhone charging cable consumes 7 watts when charging an empty smartphone. Similarly, when the iPad is turned off, it charges with 7 watts, even when the battery level is 96%.
Interestingly, when an iPad is in use with a nearly full battery, the Anker charging device consumes 17 watts. Conversely, when the battery of a MacBook Air starts to drain, the power adapter's consumption increases to 28 watts when the battery level is 95%.
When a MacBook Air is in use and connected to its power adapter, the consumption is between 6 and 8 watts. This is significantly less than the idle consumption of the older iPhone charging device.
The universal USB-C charger from Anker consumed more power when not in use than the MacBook Air charging device, but less than the older iPhone charging device.
Many people charge their mobile devices in convenient locations such as by the bed, at the desk, or in the living room, leading to convenience-based decisions to leave charging cables plugged in. However, these idle charging devices still consume electricity in standby mode. Unused tablet and smartphone charging cables left plugged into sockets still consume electricity, and this standby consumption can account for up to 10% of household electricity use.
The exact amount depends on the charger’s wattage, but cumulatively, this represents a noticeable unnecessary electricity consumption. For instance, unused mobile phone chargers consume about 2.5 kilowatt-hours of power per year.
Moreover, leaving charging cables for smartphones, tablets, or laptops in the socket after the charging process is complete wastes power unnecessarily. This waste can add up, especially in households with multiple devices.
It's also worth noting that defective charging devices can pose a hidden fire hazard. Therefore, it's important to regularly check the condition of your charging devices and replace them if necessary.
If all charging devices were removed from the outlet, it would save 82,450 tons of carbon dioxide. This not only helps in reducing our carbon footprint but also lowers electricity bills.
In conclusion, it's recommended to unplug charging devices when they are not in use to save energy and money. Even if one doesn't care about the climate, it's still advisable to unplug charging devices to reduce unnecessary electricity consumption. For instance, a TV in standby mode can drain up to 50 euros from a household's annual electricity bill. So, let's make a conscious effort to save energy and contribute to a greener future.
