Does a Plugged Window Air Conditioner Use Electricity While Not in Use?

Vampires

• Window air conditioners are one of many appliances that drain tiny amounts of electricity when left plugged in. They are called “energy vampires” because of their need to draw power while in standby mode. Some window air conditioners operate by remote control and need standby power to receive remote signals, for example. Other air conditioners may have keypads or status lights that draw power 24 hours a day.

Significance

• Spending an extra dollar a year to leave a window air conditioner plugged in may not sound like much, but the costs can add up. The Lawrence Berkeley laboratory reports some households may have up to 40 products plugged in while not in use. The list includes multiple televisions, radios, smart phones, tablets, printers, dishwashers and lamps.

Considerations

• Some people unplug their window units when they are not in use because air conditioning is expensive overall. The average household uses more electricity on air conditioning than anything else, according to Saving Electricity, a consumer information online publication. Window AC units use 500 to 1,440 watts of power to operate, compared to about 3,500 watts per hour for central air conditioning systems. A watt is a measure of electricity.

Alternatives

• Other cooling devices use less power than window AC units. Ceiling fans use just 15 to 95 watts, depending on the speed and size of the unit. Floor fans set at the highest speed use about 100 watts. A combination of open windows, ceiling fans and floor fans can result in significant savings on electricity.

Tips

• Purchase window AC units that are the right size for your room. Larger units cost more to operate because of their more powerful motors. Use programmable timers to turn the units on and off to suit your needs. Program timers so that the AC unit cools certain rooms just before you arrive home from work. Some units have timers built in. Or purchase a plug-in timer from a home improvement store.