ELECTRICITY bills can put a serious dent in your wallet, and you may be unknowingly bumping up your fees by up to $200 each year due to some sneaky energy consumers in your home.
These so-called vampire devices sneak up unnoticed, slowly draining your electricity and increasing your energy bill – but an expert shared an easy solution that offers a range of benefits.
Electricity is already quite costly, and you may be bumping up your energy bill without even knowing it[/caption]
An energy expert has revealed an easy solution to slash your electricity bill by up to $200, plus other lesser-known benefits it provides[/caption]
Electricity generally makes up the largest portion of a household’s utility bills, often accounting for 45% to 55% of the total cost.
The summertime heat is bumping up your bills even further, making it more costly to cool down your home as temperatures spike.
The average cost of electricity from June to September is projected to reach $784 this year – a 6.2% hike from last year’s $737 average – per a report from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association.
With Americans shelling out the highest electricity payments in at least 12 years, every dollar counts – and you may be tacking on extra to your monthly costs without even knowing it.
One sneaky culprit is what’s known as vampire devices, also referred to as standby power, phantom loads, or energy vampires.
These electronic devices consume electricity even when they are turned off or in standby mode in order to keep certain features operational, such as clocks, timers, or digital displays.
Phantom loads can be caused by a number of devices that you may be forgetting about, such as laptops, TVs, microwaves, video game consoles, coffeemakers, toasters, chargers, and more.
While leaving devices plugged in and running in the background may not seem like a big deal, this vampire energy is often overlooked and can result in higher electricity bills each month.
It places a very real strain on your wallet, accounting for roughly 10% of a home’s energy consumption and costing some households up to $200 each year, per the Department of Energy.
This can add up, with the total yearly cost of vampire energy in the US standing at around $19 billion, according to estimates by the Natural Resources Defense Council estimates.
UNPLUG IT
The most effective method to cut down on the amount of standby power consumed in your home is to unplug electronics and appliances when they are not in use.
This strategy not only helps to eliminate the excess charges on your monthly energy bills caused by vampire energy, but also offers a number of other benefits.
For example, unplugging idle devices can help to improve the lifespan of them, according to Scott Harden, senior vice president and chief technology officer at Schneider Electric.
“Constant standby current can stress electronics over time,” Harden told The U.S. Sun, explaining that unplugging devices can help reduce their wear and tear and extend their operational life.
Another benefit of unplugging electronic devices is enhanced fire safety and surge protection.
How to address the energy vampires in your home
Addressing the energy draining devices in your home is a key way to slash your energy bills.
There are several actionable steps that homeowners and renters can take to reduce the standby power used in their households:
- Unplug devices when not in use: this is the most effective way to get rid of phantom loads.
- Use power strips: power strips with on and off switches make it easy to power off several devices at a time. Smart power strips are even more convenient, as they automatically turn off devices in standby mode.
- Identify and address specific appliances: check for home for electronic devices that are consistently using power even when off.
- Utilize energy-saving features: take advantage of sleep modes and other energy-saving settings on your electronics.
- Consider energy-efficient alternatives: look for appliances with lower standby power consumption such as products with the Energy Star label, as they are designed to be more energy-efficient.
“Though modern chargers are generally safe, leaving them unattended while plugged in slightly increases potential risks from malfunctions or power surges,” said the energy expert.
Unplugging your unused electronics helps to protect both your home and your devices from these hazards.
A third lesser-known benefit of addressing the vampire devices in your home is lower carbon emissions.
“All electricity drawn from standby consumption contributes to carbon dioxide emissions,” said Harden, explaining that vampire devices are responsible for a notable portion of these emissions due to the constant energy they draw.
In the US alone, standby power creates roughly 44 million metric tons of carbon dioxide each year – equivalent to the yearly carbon emissions of around 15 million cars, per the Natural Resources Defense Council.
“By unplugging unnecessary devices, you shrink your carbon footprint,” said the expert.
The U.S. Sun previously spoke with energy experts to help you save money as your energy bills climb.
An HVAC expert shared five simple mistakes that are costing you $100s on your energy bill – just grab aluminum foil, water, and ice.
Plus, another expert shared a little-known “temperature” mistake that could be tacking on hundreds to your electricity costs.
A number of vampire devices in your home may be spiking your energy bills, including TVs, microwaves, video game consoles, and more[/caption]
Energy bills are expected to reach an average of $784 this summer[/caption]
