Real vampires don’t exist, but energy vampires do in great numbers, and your home may have them by the dozens. You’ll find them plugged into electrical outlets throughout your home. They’re the chargers for portable devices, entertainment centers, computers, clocks and kitchen appliances.
Each one on its own may not use much, but when you multiply their collective annual usage, it adds up to the amount 26 average power plants produce in the U.S. each year.
Controlling the standby power that these devices use does take some effort, but in the long run, it will pay off in lower electrical consumption that benefit both you and the planet. The first step in eliminating their waste is to identify them and then organize them.
Power strips are key to stopping energy vampires, especially for chargers, computers and their peripherals, entertainment systems and some kitchen appliances.
- Plug the television and any peripheral devices it uses into the same strip, you can stop all the standby power each uses simply by turning off the strip.
- Collect all the chargers your family uses, label them, and keep them in one location. When a device has finished, either turn off the power strip or remove the charger.
- Shut down desktop computers if they’re going to be idle overnight or for a few hours. They use more electricity than laptops or tablets.
When you need to replace electronics, look for those that carry the Energy Star label. More efficient chargers stop drawing power once the device has been fully charged. Televisions with the Energy Star label don’t use as much standby power and often have screen settings to help you cut their power consumption.
If you don’t need to replace anything, look for smart power strips that shut the power off automatically once charging is complete.
Reducing the usage from energy vampires will cut your energy bills, as will keeping your home’s heating and cooling system in top condition. To learn more, contact CCAC, Inc., providing trusted HVAC services for Coastal Bend homeowners.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 361-678-2495.
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