A light is on in an empty room. This is not the beginning of a mystery, but the beginning of a story about waste of electricity. Do you sometimes forget to turn off the light after leaving the bathroom? Or you do leave the TV on and go out shopping, or you return from an outing to find the air conditioner on in an empty room? It is quite common to leave the lights on by accident. However, electricity is not free, and the amount of electricity we use emits carbon dioxide.

Of all the home appliances we use, air conditioners have the highest electricity bill. The electricity bill varies depending on the size of the room, but it can be as high as 16,000 yen per year for a 10 square meter room, and more than 50,000 yen for a 32 square meter room.

Televisions are another power-consuming appliance. When we wake up in the morning, we turn it on and use it as a clock. We tend to leave it on without thinking about it. It is important to get into the habit of watching only the programs you want to watch. Some televisions have features such as fast startup mode or quick start that allow you to watch programs as soon as you turn on the switch. These functions consume electricity even when the TV is not being watched. Depending on the model, fast startup mode can consume up to 100 times more electricity than normal standby power consumption.

Heating toilet seats also consume a surprising amount of electricity. The electricity bill is about 315 yen per month. Turn them off during the hot summer months.

Have you ever heard of the term "standby power? Home appliances and various electronic devices consume power just by being plugged into a power outlet. Even if everything is switched off, the power meter will be silently turning. This applies to televisions, air conditioners, DVD players, computers, printers, washing machines, the list goes on and on. If they are left plugged in, and if they are left unplugged all year round, they can add up to a tangible energy loss. Unplug appliances and electronics when not in use.

episode 3
Turn the Lights Off!