Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Separate studies indicate that standby power is responsible for 20-60 W per home in developed countries. Standby power is responsible for about 2 percent of OECD countries total electricity consumption and the related power generation generates almost 1 percent of their carbon emissions. Replacement of existing appliances with those appliances having the lowest standby would reduce total standby power consumption by over 70 percent. The resulting reductions in carbon emissions would meet over 3 percent of OECD's total Kyoto commitments. Other strategies may cut more carbon emissions, but standby power is unique in that the reductions are best accomplished through international collaboration and whose costs and large benefits would be spread over all countries.