Some of your electronic devices at home drain energy even when they are turned off, but still plugged into an outlet. The average U.S. home spends about $100 per year to power devices while they are off or in standby mode. Here are some tips to help you identify and eliminate the energy-sucking appliances in your home.
Interesting facts about vampire appliances:
- The average home has about 40 vampire energy electronics.
- Standby power can account for about 20 percent on your energy bill.
- Powering devices while they are off or in standby mode can cost you about $100 per year.
Vampire Appliances in your home:
- Televisions
- Cable or satellite boxes
- Game consoles
- DVD, DVR or VCR players
- Computers
- Devices that turn on automatically with a remote control
- Chargers (such as your cell phone or camera chargers)
- Printers
- Standby coffee makers
- Electronics with a standby light or clock
Tips to help you eliminate vampire appliances:
- Unplug your devices - If you have an extra TV or desktop computer you don’t use often, unplug it until you need to use them.
- Use a power strip - Power strips allow the convenience of powering devices on and off so that they’re not consuming power when you’re not around.
- Smart Upgrades - ENERGY STAR appliances have a lower standby consumption and use less energy than a general appliance.
