I am writing in regards to the energy waste from charging sockets at the meal hall in Acadia University. Standby power refers to the energy consumed by appliances while they are not performing their primary function or when they are switched off. A precise definition is being developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and other groups, as the current definition doesn't distinguish between products that are truly doing nothing and others that are providing some sort of function in this lowest power mode.

At Acadia University, a study was conducted on the charging sockets in the meal hall to determine their standby power usage. We collected information on how many students actually go to the meal hall to charge their devices, as in the past years, the previous meal hall did not have charging sockets that came with multiple charging cords for different devices. As a result, there is concern that these new charging sockets are adding to the amount of electricity cost.

The charging station includes three fast charging outlets with different charging cords for devices (phones). During a one-week test from November 1st, 2021, to November 5th, 2021, we recorded the number of students who came to finish their assignments before class. The data shows that an average of 4.8 students bring laptops during the one-hour data collection period, with an average penetration rate of 0.387 watts for students with laptops. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, the recorder was there from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, and from 2 to 3 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Based on Dr. Paul Arnold's statement, the price of electricity in the Wolfville area is $0.11/KW*h. Given that the meal hall is only available during the school's approximately eight months of operation and that meals are open from 7:30 am to 10:30 am from Mondays to Saturdays and from 8:30 am to 11:00 pm on Sundays, we can estimate the sum of money lost per year due to standby power at the meal hall. The months of September to April (when the school is in full-time operation) will be used for calculations.

Using these details, we can calculate the open hours of the meal hall per year, which amount to 3630 hours. We can then calculate the money spent on electricity per year, which amounts to $6.59/year based on the KW*h consumption per hour of use.

It is important to note that there is an increasing dependence on electric power in today's electric world, and developments in computerization and electrification have increased everyone's dependence on electricity, making energy conservation a major motivational factor for all nations worldwide.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Laakey Engineers

15 Lake St, Key Town B2Z 1P1

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), computers account for 2-3% of overall household and business energy consumption in the United States. Although sleep mode serves its purpose, it is not a complete substitute for turning off and unplugging appliances whenever possible.

Various measures can be taken to reduce standby power dissipation, including unplugging appliances that are not in use, except for those devices that need to remain in sleep mode for proper communication with peripheral devices or network managers. A power strip can be employed to turn off all devices at once, thereby preventing phantom energy loss from unplugging each socket from the wall. Additionally, schools can adopt policies and standards in favor of more efficient appliances.

Despite seeming insignificant compared to other expenses, accumulated savings from implementing these measures can prove valuable financially and environmentally over time. It is hoped that this approach becomes widely implemented and produces significant financial and environmental benefits.

Sincerely,

Project Engineer

References:

- B.T. Division. (2019). Definition of Standby. Retrieved from https://standby.lbl.gov/measure/

- Gifford, D. (2021). How to Slay Vampire Power in Your Home. Retrieved from Small Footprint Family: https://www.smallfootprintfamily.com/reducing-standby-power

- A. Materials (2021). Standby Power Measurement Strategies to Improve Energy Efficiency. Retrieved from Yokogawa Europe B.V.: https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=9504