If you’re one of those people who looks in the closet for vampires and other monsters before bed each night, you’ve been looking in the wrong place.
Energy vampires, if you’ve ever heard of them, live unnoticed in every home and spend all day sucking up your energy, leading to increased carbon dioxide pollution and higher costs for you.
What is an energy vampire?
No, it’s not watching all five Twilight films back to back. They are all the electronics in your home that you may not be using but are plugged in and consuming power, like phone chargers, televisions, lamps, blenders and coffee makers.
These vampires combined can add as much as 20% to your monthly electric bill, according to Duke Energy, a North Carolina power company that provides services to customers in six states and Puerto Rico.
In the U.S. every year, energy vampires waste the equivalent of what would be produced by 50 major power plants, or the same amount of power as Alabama and Arizona combined, according to a 2015 National Resource Defense Council study.
The study noted that unplugging can prevent around 48.5 million tons of carbon dioxide from escaping into the atmosphere yearly. While the individual cost savings may not seem like much — around $165 per household — it quickly adds up to $19 billion nationwide.
What can you do about it?
Here are some tips and places to look around your house that should make a big difference.
Unplug Unused Electronics: Many electronics aren’t used daily. Unplug infrequent ones like old TVs or outdated game consoles to save energy.
Adopt Power Strips: Instead of unplugging each device, use power strips. Opt for “smart” strips that control energy usage, ideal for entertainment systems and offices.
Choose ENERGY STAR: When buying appliances, consider their energy efficiency. Older ones use more power. ENERGY STAR labels ensure energy savings.
Use a Wattmeter: Unsure about which devices consume excess energy? Measure their standby consumption with a wattmeter, an easy-to-use device that measures active power in the circuit connected to whatever electronic item you want.
Unplug Chargers: After charging, unplug not just the device but also the charger. AC adapter chargers still draw power when left plugged in.
Where to Spot Energy Vampires
Kitchen:
Microwaves
Toaster ovens
Coffee makers
Appliances with digital clocks
Living Room:
TV
Cable box
Game consoles
Stereos
DVD players
Bedroom:
Alarm clocks
Phone and laptop chargers
Heaters/window AC units
TVs
Game consoles
Bathroom:
Hair appliances
Electric razors
Toothbrush chargers
Office:
Computers
Chargers
Printers
Copiers
Garage:
Power tools