'Standby' Appliances to Get Energy Use Stickers

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... [read full story]