Bottom Line: Vampire power usage (also called “stand-by” power usage) can be eliminated by following a few simple steps

Your home electronics use a lot of electricity when they are turned on, but did you know that many electronics and computer equipment, go into stand-by and continue to consume electricity, even after you've turned them off?

This constant electrical usage is called many things: "stand-by," “idle current,” “phantom load,”  “vampire energy,” and “leaking electricity.”   Whatever you call it, stand-by energy waste can account for up to 20% of your home's electricity use, according the U.S. Department of Energy.

The list of "energy vampires" in your home is long: HDTVs, DVD and CD players, video game systems, AV receivers, cell phone chargers, computers, printers, scanners, and more. Although stand-by energy use is a fraction of what equipment uses when it's fully on, it all adds up quickly.

Of course, stand-by energy waste not only increases your electric bill, it also increases your carbon footprint. The energy needed to support your home's stand-by power waste is often generated by coal burning plants that pollute the air, or nuclear power plants that generate radioactive waste.

 

Take Action:

• Most simply:  unplug appliances like DVD players and TVs when you are gone for long periods of time.
• Learn more about vampire power by watching this Youtube video.
• Purchase a vampire power center at a retailer near you.

Citations:
http://www.monstercable.com

Picture:
A vampire power center