I was intrigued yesterday morning when I heard the Virgin Radio (France) host saying that mobile owners pay €70 a month to power their smartphones, ipods, tablets and laptops. It turns out this number relates to the annual cost but the point is no less alarming. The average household spends around €1,400/year on energy of which some €900 relate to electricity. According to the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME), 14% of this electricity relates to recharging phones and other devices – a very high figure which exceeds even the share of lighting that comes to 12%.

The agency warns that most of this power is wasted when the phone is left to charge overnight, even when it is turned off. The residual power that is wasted when devices are plugged in represents a pure waste equivalent to two nuclear power plants operating permanently at full capacity and a cost of €2 billion.

Imagine what could be achieved if such funds were invested into speeding the transition to a clean energy future.

Some smart ideas:

• Most phones can be charged in two hours – leaving them to charge overnight is costly and wasteful.
• Get an external battery to provide more autonomy when needed.
• Go for a solar or wind powered charger!
• Charge your phone as you ride – Check out CITYCYCLE.COM at LINK for great Christmas ideas for your favorite cyclist!