The Costco Connection - May/June 2010

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By Diane Slawych

AS RECENTLY AS five years ago, the average plasma TV consumed about as much electricity as a refrigerator. But now, thanks in part to manufacturers who are responding to consumer demand for more energy-efficient products, new models are coming out that will consume as little as a 100-watt light bulb.

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“TVs overall are becoming more energy efficient,” explains Jason Zapp, a Costco electronics buyer.

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Savvy consumers who want
to save money on utility bills while
helping to protect the environment look
for the Energy Star symbol, which identifies
products as the top high-efficiency perform-
ers in their category. This spring, Costco will
be introducing LED (light-emitting diode),
LCD (liquid crystal display) and plasma tele-
visions with a new and higher Energy Star
standard of 4.0, which will be at least 40 per
cent more efficient than conventional models.
The new televisions are among the many
products Costco will highlight during a week-
long promotion (May 31 to June 6) that coin-
cides with Canadian Environment Week (May
31 to June 5). Other Energy Star–rated products
include washing machines, refrigerators, com-
puters, thermostats, dehumidifiers and lights.

During Environment Week, members will find instant-rebate coupons offering discounts of between 10 to 30 per cent off a range of energy-efficient and environmentally friendly products. Last year, for example, there were discounts on bicycles, lighting fixtures and biodegradable cleaning products.

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Even if you own few or no Energy Star
products, you have other options to save money
on electricity. One way
is to reduce what is
sometimes referred to as
phantom, or standby,
power. Electrical equip-
ment that is turned off but
remains plugged into an outlet continues to
draw electricity, costing you money.

Think of all the potential “energy vampires” in your home right now, from TVs and DVD players to computers and audio systems. One obvious solution is to unplug equipment when it’s not in use. If that’s too inconvenient due to myriad cords or hard-to-reach outlets, a power bar will help.

To find out which electrical products in your home are using the most electricity, consider buying or renting a power meter (to save money, share it with friends and split the cost) that measures consumption in watts.

In addition, representatives from various provincial utility companies are expected to set up kiosks at Costco warehouses, where they will be available to talk to members about energy efficiency and answer questions.

“I’d say for anything over 1 watt it’s worth unplugging the device or connecting it to a switchable power bar,” says Lydia Aouani, Energy Star account manager for home electronics and office equipment with Natural Resources Canada.

Reducing energy vampires

If the meter gives a reading of 5 watts, for example, you would then multiply by 24 hours and by 365 days, then divide by 1,000 (to convert from watts to kilowatts) and multiply by your utility rate, which varies in each province and territory but, is on average 0.10 cent per kilowatt-hour. In this case the standby power totals $4.38 for the year. That may not sound like much, but, says Aouani, if you add up all of the devices in your home the total can be quite a lot. C