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Small Energy Costs Add Up Quicker Than You Think!

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Take as an example your home computer, printer and monitor (a regular CRT monitor). Together, they could easily use an average of 200 watts. If left actively on all year – i.e., if they don't automatically power down to sleep mode – that would add up to 1752 kWh of energy and cost $140 to operate! And imagine if there are two or more systems in one household.

Here's the formula for figuring it what it costs to power your units: 200 W x 24 hours x 365 days. Divide your answer by 1000 to convert it into kilowatt hours and you get 1752 kWh per year. To determine the cost, multiply by how much you pay for electricity: 1752 kWh x $0.08 per kWh (or your local electricity cost) = $140 per year .

That's why it's important to choose energy-efficient products, and that's where Natural Resources Canada can help.

In Canada, ENERGY STAR^® is the symbol for energy efficiency – products that qualify for the symbol are among the top energy performers on the market. They exceed minimum national energy efficiency standards, typically by 10 to 50 percent.

A lot of products such as televisions and computers use energy when they appear to be off. But if they carry an ENERGY STAR symbol, their power-management features ensure that they consume minimum power when turned off or in sleep mode.

Don't forget, the less energy you use, the more money you save and the less impact on our environment.

For more information on the ENERGY STAR symbol or for tips on buying energy-efficient products, visit the Web site of Natural Resources Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency, or call 1 800 387-2000 toll-free. Or write to Energy Publications, Office of Energy Efficiency, c/o S.J.D.S., Gatineau, Quebec J9J 3N7.