A plugged-in phone charger is a common sight at home, often left even when not charging. But there are reasons why this isn’t as harmless as it seems.
The Power Drain
Chargers use power even when not charging. A test on an Apple charger showed it uses about 130W a month, or 1.5KW h a year. This might seem small, but with multiple chargers, it adds up.
Think about how many chargers you have and how much power they use. Bigger chargers use more, and non-genuine ones can use 10 to 20 times more. Also, millions of chargers running all the time hurt the environment, adding to power use and carbon emissions.
Fire Risk: A Serious Problem
Leaving a charger plugged in can be a fire hazard. Overheating chargers, especially when covered by stuff like clothes or books, can get too hot and start a fire. This is even worse with cheap, non-branded chargers that might not be safe.