Household Appliances and Entertainment Systems
Introduction
Technology in household appliances and entertainment systems is making the lives of consumers more convenient, and comfortable while remaining attainable to the masses. However associated with this technology is cost. Cost to the user, cost the environment, and cost to the future. Some of this technology has been used to increase efficiency, therefore reducing the costs. This increase in efficiency is a strong selling point allowing companies to market long term savings for the consumer.
One the other hand, technology has been used to make life more convenient, and comfortable, at the cost of efficiency. Convenience and comfort is a strong marketing ploy, while the decreasing efficiency is not widely disclosed to consumer.
Consumer behaviour is the biggest factor in relation to the power consumption and Greenhouse Gas emissions. Consumers still want the best product they can afford, for example wide screen television, surround sound system, washing machine, microwave, dishwasher, oven, dryer, computer etc. Consumers are concerned with efficiency, and running costs, yet they still need to feel satisfied and impressed with their purchase. Upon doing so the consumer fails to realise the hidden cost. The hidden cost is a resultant of standby mode.
These appliances generally have a minimal “in use” time, and a long standby time. The power saved while the product is in use, compared to various other products, can be negligible to the power drain while in standby mode.
Green House Gas Emissions
If an appliance is in minimum power mode, and not in full use it is said to be on standby. This standby mode consumes power 24 hours a day, 7 days a week while awaiting user input.
The standby feature has been a revolutionary addition, changing consumers, lives and habits. This standby feature has been on almost every entertainment appliance manufactured in the past 20 years. The vast majority of consumers consider the standby mode as “off”. However
Technology in household appliances and entertainment systems is making the lives of consumers more convenient, and comfortable while remaining attainable to the masses. However associated with this technology is cost. Cost to the user, cost the environment, and cost to the future. Some of this technology has been used to increase efficiency, therefore reducing the costs. This increase in efficiency is a strong selling point allowing companies to market long term savings for the consumer.
One the other hand, technology has been used to make life more convenient, and comfortable, at the cost of efficiency. Convenience and comfort is a strong marketing ploy, while the decreasing efficiency is not widely disclosed to consumer.
Consumer behaviour is the biggest factor in relation to the power consumption and Greenhouse Gas emissions. Consumers still want the best product they can afford, for example wide screen television, surround sound system, washing machine, microwave, dishwasher, oven, dryer, computer etc. Consumers are concerned with efficiency, and running costs, yet they still need to feel satisfied and impressed with their purchase. Upon doing so the consumer fails to realise the hidden cost. The hidden cost is a resultant of standby mode.
These appliances generally have a minimal “in use” time, and a long standby time. The power saved while the product is in use, compared to various other products, can be negligible to the power drain while in standby mode.
Green House Gas Emissions
If an appliance is in minimum power mode, and not in full use it is said to be on standby. This standby mode consumes power 24 hours a day, 7 days a week while awaiting user input.
The standby feature has been a revolutionary addition, changing consumers, lives and habits. This standby feature has been on almost every entertainment appliance manufactured in the past 20 years. The vast majority of consumers consider the standby mode as “off”. However
References: http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/local/strategic/chapter7.html#Electronic%20appliances http://www.energyrating.gov.au/standby-background.html http://www.energyrating.gov.au/library/pubs/200602-intrusive-survey.pdf