Power consumers asked to shed off phantom load, ‘vampire’ consumption

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy is seeking the support of all power consumers to do their share in conserving electricity, as it urged them to reduce their so-called ‘phantom load’ or “vampire power.”

According to the DoE, phantom load refers to the electricity consumed by a device that is switched off but continues to draw power due to its standby power requirement. Many consumer electronic products could use up energy even when switched off if these were plugged to a power outlet, it noted.

Consumer electronics in particular comprise about 15 percent of a household’s electricity consumption, and this figure would increase if one were to add more electronics and gadgets to his or her home.

The DoE explained that a typical modern household in the Philippines with a computer, TV, microwave oven with timer, automatic voltage regulator, extension cords with pilot lamp, stereo component and DVD would account for about 30 watts per hour.

If one leaves his/her home with these appliances on standby power for 10 hours per day, these would collectively consume 109.5 kilowatt-hour per year—equivalent to an additional P1,095 to one’s electricity bill in a year.

The amount could increase corresponding to the number of appliances in the household, the DoE warned.

To reduce phantom loads, homeowners should unplug devices when they are not in use.

The DoE is also encouraging consumers to purchase energy-efficient appliances and products with the government’s energy labels. The labeling program for selected household appliance and lighting products such as room air conditioners, refrigerators (with storage volume of five cubic feet/142 liters to eight cubic feet/227 liters) and compact fluorescent lamps will empower buyers to make informed choices, according to the DoE.

The campaign forms part of the government’s thrust to boost energy efficiency measures, meant not only to effectively manage power supply and demand, but to also produce savings and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The DoE’s long-term aim, according to its officials, is to create a national awareness that electricity is a valuable commodity that has to be used wisely and judiciously.

The agency, in the past, has discouraged buyers from purchasing “used” or “ukay-ukay” appliances as these have been discarded from the countries of origin and are already energy-inefficient.

The energy department has maintained that while energy efficiency and conservation may be ‘low-hanging’ or no-cost energy saving measure, it has barely been practiced as a way of life in the residential sector.

As such, it has begun implementing more aggressively several programs and projects such as the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Program (NEECP), Government Energy Management Program (GEMP), the Philippine Energy Efficient Lighting Market Transformation Project (PELMATP), and the Philippine Energy Efficiency Project (PEEP) to help the country save millions of dollars annually in energy costs.