Edenbee: Switch off my mobile phone charger when it's not in use

Switch off my mobile phone charger when it's not in use

A staggering 95 per cent of the power used by mobile phone chargers is wasted, because the charger still sucks from the mains even when the phone is not attached. That means you are being charged for nothing. Quick, turn it off now! Then sit back with a cuppa and think of all the money you're saving by doing nothing!

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by Canela about 1 month ago

I started doing this since earth day and realized it wasn't that hard to do!
by raynimmo 2 months ago

Since joining edenbee I have been a lot more aware of things like this.

This last few weeks I have always been unplugging the charger, at home and at work, its a small act but it makes a difference.
by Jesper 2 months ago

I just now use my USB port on my PC and my 12 voly adapter in the car when it's running - don't use a charger at all.
by JeffF 2 months ago

I bought an adapted cover plate for my electrical socket that has pocket big enough for my charger. When I am done using it, I automatically unplug the charger and stick it in the pocket when I unplug my phone. It eliminates the chance that I might not unplug it because I have no place to put it.
by bruceboughton 2 months ago

Something very similar to the Nokia charger was demo'ed at Demo08: the Greenplug (http://www.greenplug.us). It's an intelligent charger that speaks to the device to determine its charging needs via a special power protocol.

Watch the demo here: http://www.demo.com/demonstrators/demo2008/124686.html
by Busybee 2 months ago

Here's a nice little idea from Nokia to sort this one out!
http://conversations.nokia.com/home/2008/04/nokia-design--3.html
by codecreative 3 months ago

I find it incredibly useful that the UK has on/off switches for the electrical outlets. Something I never thought about growing up in the US, but it seems so obvious.
by VMeldrew 3 months ago

Mobile phone chargers that are plugged in the grid (mains) are quite inefficient: on average around 60%. Electricity generated by a fossil fuel power station is about 35% efficient. Nett efficiency: ~21%
Car mobile phone chargers a fairly efficient: ~80%. Electricity generated from fuel by the engine/alternator is very inefficient: ~25%. Nett efficiency: ~20%.
The difference in efficiency between charging your mobile phone in your car or in at home is very small and we are only talking about 20Wh for a full charge (4 Wh @ 20% eff.).
My advice: charge your phone in the in the car (if you are using one anyway), at least you will not forget to turn the charger off.
by doctoral 4 months ago

Just for your info, any extra electrical load on the cars system, such as headlights, telephones or stereo equipment result in extra fuel consumption. You're probably better off charging devices at home, especially if you get your power from a renewable source.
by mandaj 4 months ago

I do most of my iPhone charging in the car since I either use it for music through the stereo, or just use the car charger. I hardly ever have to charge it in the house. Or I'll just let it charge through the laptop while it's charging.
by BeePositive 4 months ago

Such a simple thing to do..and why look at wires hanging out of the wall. I always do this when the charging is done. My six year old even unplugs his DS Lite charger so anyone can do it. Buying a camera with a rechargable battery is also a good eco measure
by elliotjaystocks 4 months ago

I try and do this most of the time, although sometimes I'm lazy and charge up overnight. Very bad!
by adactio 4 months ago

I used to have a USB charger for my phone. It was great! I would just plug into my computer (often my laptop when I was on the go) and charge for just as long as I needed to. It was one of those handy self-retracting cables too.

Then I lost it. My phone is so old that I can't find a replacement anywhere.

But for anyone who can find a USB charger for their phone, I highly recommend it: when you're traveling, it means you've got one less bulky plug to pack. And, of course, you've got one less plug plugged into the wall drawing power all the time.
by mryap 4 months ago

My water saving goal for the loo:

If its yellow, let it mellow

If its brown, flush it down
by RellyAB 4 months ago

I wrote this goal when I was working on the Edenbee website and ever since I have remembered to take my charger out of the wall when it isn't in use.

And I do sit back with a cup of tea and think about how much money I'm saving. Muahahahaaaa.
by clagnut 4 months ago

I didn't realise until recently that chargers draw current even when the phone isn't plugged into them.

I never keep the charger plugged into the wall unless it's actually charging my phone.

Like so many of these things, it's just a matter of habit.

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Edenbees can ask questions about this goal. If you’re an Edenbee already, log in now, otherwise you’ll need to register (it’s quick, easy and free).
Can anyone give me an accurate assessment of how much energy is being pulled by a phone charger, a camera battery charger, a mini-usb charger i.e., iPhone? And what of one of these plugged into a computer that is set to sleep when not in use? 7 answers

Asked by lydia 4 months ago
1. AlunR
  Googling reveals this...
  
  http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/sustainable/charger/
  
  As far as I'm concerned though any saving is a good saving!
2. lydia
  Thank you AlunR. I, as well, have done a bit of Google-searching, but have not found anything definitive. The most authoritative piece I read is specific to Nokia chargers (http://www.cellular-news.com/story/23664.php)
  
  Still no word on iPhones charging through mini-usb via computer, but yes, I appreciate that small steps are valuable.
  
  Thanks for the reply.
3. doctoral
  I recently purchased some energy monitors to measure and hopefully reduce the energy consumption in the home and businesses.
  
  The Owl and the Efergy are the two units I chose.
  
  I really like the Owl for the following reasons,
  
  Nicely made
  Made in UK
  Good display
  
  However, it doesn’t record the energy consumption. This is a pity as this feature makes the Efergy a winner, despite it being of inferior quality and make in China. With the record of energy consumption, one can look back and see if ones efforts have paid off.
  
  This feature in the Owl would make it the clear winner.
4. SharpSharp
  I hate myself for giving this answer but your phone charger draws next to no power when it is plugged in and not in use!
  
  I've just plugged 3 phone chargers into the same extension lead running through my power meter and there was no increase in wattage. This means they were pulling less than a third of a watt each. So if you left them on all day it would be less than 8watt/hours or less than 3 kwh a year.
  
  I'm not sure what 3kwh's of electricity adds to your annual carbon footprint but I'm guessing about the same as driving 3 miles, so each time you leave your phone charger plugged-in force yourself to walk to the shops rather than driving, it'll make a much bigger difference.
5. smartplanet
  Short answer, not a lot. I did a test -- see half-way down here:
  http://www.smartplanet.com/news/tech/10001014/hands-on-the-eco-minded-nokia-3110-evolve.htm
6. lydia
  I had anticipated that it was not much. There's a good deal of speculation, and not much science in many claims.
  
  Thank you to SharpSharp and smartplanet for sharing their results.
7. samsoir
  One easy way to find out if your phone charger is drawing energy plugged or unplugged is feel it. If heat is being generated, energy is being used.
  
  As phone chargers use a coil to scale the volts down from 250v to your phones voltage, there is potential for heat to be produced there. However depending on your chargers circuitry, unless the circuit is complete there will be no energy flow and therefore no energy used.
This is one thing I hate doing. Think of how much time you'll waste turning the swith on and off ;) 5 answers

Asked by dctanner 4 months ago
1. twhume
  Heh, but do you realise how many mobiles I have ;)
2. RellyAB
  about the same as it took you to type your message? :p
3. maxthelion
  I agree, you are so lazy dctanner
4. doctoral
  try the standby buster device, from energy-centre.co.uk. Allows you to remotely switch off sockets, so you don't have to grovel behind the tv or pc or whatever. Genius.
5. _x_Rosey-Annie_x_
  Haha, admittedly, i think that, but then the guilt kicks in. You realise that actually it is sooo easy. It is very lazy dctanner, shameful ;P