Seagate ST3500312CS Green Power with Pipeline HD - Page 2

Energy-Efficient Electronics Gain Momentum in the Home Rising Electricity Costs Call for EnergyEfficient Equipment The demand for electricity in the residential market has grown to the extent that energy efficiency is becoming a prominent concern for the average household. In the United States, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) predicts that the demand for electricity will grow by 27 percent in the residential sector by 2030.3 Annual Electricity Sales by Sector 1980 to 2030 (billion kWh) 2000 History Projections Commecial Residential 1500 1000 Industrial 500 0 1980 1995 2008 2020 2030 Figure 1. Rise in energy consumption from 1980 to 20304 The EIA also expects electricity costs to jump anywhere from 18 percent to 39 percent between now and 2030.5 The rises in energy costs and demand are encouraging homeowners to invest in energy-efficient equipment. Household electronics, computers and peripheral always-on devices such as DVRs use varying amounts of power. Table 1 presents typical media center and home entertainment devices and an estimated average of how much power each consumes. Device State Watt Hours Cable box Active 80 42-inch plasma TV Idle 20 Active 350 Idle 9 DVR Active 40 External USB hard drive Active 11 Desktop Computer Idle 78 Active 124 Laptop Computer Idle 23 Active 33 Table 1. Average power consumption for typical household devices The U.S. national average for electricity costs for the home is approximately US$0.09 per kilowatt hour (kWh). Today, it is common to leave electronics on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A DVR, for instance, uses 40 watts per hour. Assuming it is in active playback and record data mode for six hours a day, it will consume around 12.23 kWh a month, which is equivalent to US$13.56 a year. Nielsen Media Research states that the average American household watches on average 4 hours and 35 minutes each day, but leaves the TV on for approximately 8 hours per day.6 If a 42-inch plasma TV consumes 350 watts per hour-or 94.9 kWh each month-when turned on for 8 hours a day, this adds up to US$105.34 a year. In other words, powering an entertainment system-complete with set-top boxes, video game consoles, speakers, DVDs and DVRs-can add nearly US$200 to an annual energy bill.7 3 Short-Term Energy Outlook, Energy Information Administration (2008), http://www.eia.doe.gov/steo 4 Annual Energy Outlook 2008 with Projections to 2030, Energy Information Administration (2008), http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/aeo/electricity.html. 5 ibid. 6 Katherine Westphal, Nielsen says TV watching at record levels: Two simple strategies to reclaim some of your family time from the TV, Buzzle.com (2006), http://www.buzzle.com/articles/tv-watching-reclaim-family-time.html. 7 Rebecca Smith, That Giant Sucking Sound May Be Your New TV, The Wall Street Journal Online (2007), 2 http://www.realestatejournal.com/homegarden/20071214-smith.html.