Frequently asked questions
Energenie automatic Standby Shutdown
Good to know:
Q: What is Energenie automatic Standby Shutdown?
A: Energenie automatic Standby Shutdown is a device that automatically switches appliances off when they are left in standby mode so that they use no electricity - rather than leaving them on standby, using electricity that is costing you money and contributing to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
Q: Does it turn off immediately the appliance goes into standby mode?
A: No, there is a short delay until Standby Shutdown cuts off the power (so if you turn the appliance off by mistake you do not need to reset).
Q: How much power is used after Standby Shutdown cuts off the power to the appliance?
A: Zero power is consumed by the appliance. However, automatic Standby Shutdown does continue to consume a very small amount of power (0.4W). As a comparison, the lowest powered normal light bulb consumes 40 watts of power – that’s 100 times as much as Standby Shutdown!
Q: How do I turn my appliance back on after Standby Shutdown has cut off the power?
A: Press the green reset button on the Standby Shutdown to restore the power to the appliance.
Q: Do I need a Standby Shutdown for every appliance?
A: No, you can plug a multi-socket extension lead into the Standby Shutdown which can have more than one appliance plugged into it – however the Energenie will only go into standby if the total Power consumption is below the standby threshold.
Q: How many appliances can be connected to each Standby Shutdown socket?
A: As many as are safe – the power rating of the Standby Shutdown is 3000W so the combined power use of the appliances you connect must not exceed this. Generally you would connect multiple appliances to the Energenie Standby socket using a four- or six-way block.
Q: Can I use Standby Shutdown outside?
A: No - Standby Shutdown is designed for INDOOR USE only. Standby Shutdown should be used in dry places only and not exposed to high levels of humidity, water or rain.
Q: Is Standby Shutdown approved for use in the UK?
A: Yes, Standby Shutdown conforms to all relevant standards for use in the UK.
Q: Where can I buy the automatic Energenie Standby Shutdown?
A: Energenie Standby Shutdown is available from many good electrical retailers in the UK from April 2008. To find out where you can buy Standby Shutdown locally, fill in the online form on the ‘Contact us’ page, stating your postcode and your request, and we will email you details of your nearest stockist.
Standby – the cost of convenience:
Q: Lots of my domestic appliances have a standby mode - why is it bad to leave them on standby?
A: In standby mode, appliances are still using electricity to stay in a state that is readily available for use. This unnecessary electricity consumption is costing you money and is directly contributing to increased carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. It is also safer to fully remove power to an appliance.
Q: Why do appliances have a standby mode?
A: The reason is generally convenience. When appliances are in standby mode they are on and ready to be activated by using a remote control or pressing a button. The energy consumed in this state is effectively wasted. The automatic Standby Shutdown prevents this waste of energy.
Q: What does standby cost?
A: Each appliance consumes a different amount of electricity when it is on standby. The amount of energy used can be calculated for individual appliances but as an example, a typical home entertainment stack of TV, DVD, digital TV set-top box, a video recorder and a stereo hi-fi system costs about £40* a year while on standby.
*Source: Which? Report: Use less electricity | 05 October 2006
Q: What is the environmental impact of standby?
A: Over £1 billion worth of energy is wasted by leaving appliances on standby.
Estimated annual CO2 emissions from devices left on standby:
| Stereos | 1,600,000 tonnes |
| Videos | 960,000 tonnes |
| TVs | 480,000 tonnes |
| Consoles | 390,000 tonnes |
| DVD players | 100,000 tonnes |
| Set-top boxes | 60,000 tonnes |
Source: Energy Saving Trust
It was estimated that in the UK in 2005, 7TWh (that’s seven thousand million kilowatt hours) of electricity was consumed by appliances on standby. If that electricity was produced by coal fired electricity stations, it would consume about 1 million tonnes of coal - or over half of all the coal that is opencast mined in England and Wales.