Measuring How Much "Standby Mode" Electricity For Game Consoles Will Cost You

An anonymous reader writes: Modern game consoles have a "standby" mode, which you can use if you want the console to instantly turn on while not drawing full power the whole time it's idle. But manufacturers are vague about how much power it takes to keep the consoles in this standby state. After a recent press release claiming $250 million worth of electricity was used to power Xbox Ones in standby mode in the past year, Ars Technica decided to run some tests to figure out exactly how much power is being drawn. Their conclusions: the PS4 draws about 10 Watts, $10-11 in extra electricity charges annually. The Xbox One draws 12.9W, costing users $13-$14 in extra electricity charges annually. The Wii U draws 13.3W, costing users $14-$15 in extra electricity charges annually. These aren't trivial amounts, but they're a lot less than simply leaving the console running and shutting off the TV when you aren't using it: "Leaving your PS4 sitting on the menu like this all year would waste over $142 in electricity costs."

Comments

Waste is heat!

[MindStalker]

What all these articles about appliance waste ignore is the fact that if you use electric heat, your Xbox waste heat is just as efficient as any other electric heater (ignoring heat pumps). If its cold outside, running your xbox 24/7 as long as the heat is in a necessary area isn't being wasted.

waste?

[turkeydance]

less than Starbucks on Standby.

Re: What Would be a Trivial Amount?

[Anonymous Coward]

More tips for you:

• Sleep on the floor. The mattress savings really adds up.
• Grow your own food. The food savings really adds up
• Gather firewood. The fuel savings really adds up
• Go to sleep after sundown. Wake up when the rooster crows
• Get a cow or two for milking.
• Get a butter churn
• Get a time machine and go back 150 years.

Re:What Would be a Trivial Amount?

[Zontar The Mindless]

Sounds cool. Can you get one of those with a remote?