This Halloween take the time to find the energy vampires prowling around your home and slay them once and for all. An “energy vampire” describes a device or appliance that continues to draw upon power from electrical outlets, even when they are not being used. According to the Department of Energy, if you leave several energy vampires plugged in, you could see an increase of up to 10 percent on your energy bill. Don’t worry though, because the pros at OnTime Service are here to tell you how to stop these energy vampires once and for all. Note: Wooden stake and garlic are optional.
1. Unplug Everything
The best way to ensure the energy vampires don’t suck all the power out of your home, is to unplug any appliance that is not in use. Here are some devices that can become energy vampires if they’re plugged in but not being used:
Hair dryers and curling irons
Electric shavers
Coffee makers, toaster ovens, microwaves.
These appliances do not use up much energy when off and plugged in, but if you unplug all of them you could save $10 to $20 per year.
DVRs and older set-top cable boxes. These appliances can use up 25-45 watts of energy when they are off.
Widescreen TVs. If you have a smaller, lesser-used TV, consider unplugging that instead of the main television in your home.
2. Use an Advanced Power Strip
Sometimes going around and unplugging everything in your home can be tedious. To make it a little easier for yourself, consider using a power strip, so you don’t have to plug and unplug everything individually. Instead, all you will need to plug or unplug will be the power strip. You can also consider getting an advanced power strip. This looks like any other power strip but has energy-saving features built into it. Advanced power strip options include timer power strips, activity monitor (motion sensor) power strips and remote switch power strips!
3. Consider ENERGY STAR appliances
If you have older appliances around your home, you might want to consider upgrading to appliances that have an Energy Star rating. Devices with this rating have a lower overall energy consumption as well as lower standby consumption than other devices. There are numerous Energy Star devices available on the market ranging from telephones to central air conditioners. If you want to know more detailed information about how much energy each appliance in your home consumes, check out this guide created by the DOE.
Fight These Energy Vampires with OnTime Service
We hope this list of ways you can prevent energy vampires is helpful. If you want to learn more about how your appliances and devices can prevent standby energy loss, get in touch with the pros at OnTime Service. Our team of knowledgeable and experienced technicians will ensure all your questions are answered! Call us today at 251-272-3595 or fill out a service request form on our website!
