A device that draws 1 watt of power throughout the course of a year will cost $1 annually to run.
Those dollars add up when common household devices are left not only plugged in, but also on high alert for their next use, according to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, which is a U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratory managed by the University of California.
The laboratory estimates the following relative costs to run these devices annually:
On but idle—$73.97
In sleep mode—$21.13
Off—$2.84
Ready, door open—$25.79
Ready, door closed—$3.08
On, TV off—$24.65
Off by remote—$17.83
Off by switch—$17.50
On standby—$23.34
Off—$1.01
Television
Off by remote—$6.97
Off by switch—$6.60
On standby—$2.25
Off—$2.01
Cellphone charger
On, phone fully charged—$2.24
On, no phone—26 cents
On standby—22 cents
Off—5 cents