[time-nuts] Transformers

[Chris Albertson]

On Mon, Jun 27, 2011 at 12:18 PM, J. Forster <jfor at quik.com> wrote:
> One of the big networks ran a program on "being green" a couple of years
> ago and suggested that the "energy crisis" could be solved by unplugging
> iPod chargers.

In the US "Standby Power" is about 5% of total.  But standby includes
things like instant on TV sets and computers in sleep mode not just
iPod and cell phone chargers.  So if you actually unplugged devices
not in use the most we'd save is 5%.  That's a lot but not nearly
enough to solve the world's energy problems.    But 5% is nothing to
ignore.  It is exactly the same as taking one house in 20 completely
off the grid.

Getting back to iPods.  Technology can help.  Apple's latest battery
charger uses 30 milliwatts in standby (after the batteries are
charged)  while the industry average is 10 times that much at about
300 mw.     The trouble is that these new chargers are complex and
cost more to make.
-- 

Chris Albertson
Redondo Beach, California