Did you know your home is haunted?
Not by ghosts, but by “Vampire Electronics.” These are the appliances and gadgets that suck electricity even when you turn them off. Your TV, microwave, gaming console, and phone charger are all guilty of this.
According to the EPA, vampire electronics can add up to 10% to 15% of your monthly electric bill. In a time of rising energy costs, that’s money you simply cannot afford to waste.
Here is how you can drive a stake through the heart of vampire energy and keep your cash where it belongs:
1. Unplug the “Big Three” The biggest energy vampires in your home are usually your Television, your Desktop Computer, and your Kitchen Appliances (like the microwave or coffee maker with a digital clock). If you aren’t using them, pull the plug. Yes, it’s annoying to plug them back in every day, but the savings are real.
2. Ditch the Wall Charger Leaving your phone charger plugged into the wall without the phone attached? It’s still drawing power. Make it a habit to unplug your chargers from the wall as soon as your device hits 100%.
3. Upgrade to Smart Power Strips This is the ultimate lazy hack for saving money. A smart power strip allows you to cut off electricity to specific ports using your phone or voice (via Alexa/Google). You can set schedules so your TV and gaming console are completely cut off from power while you sleep, but your Wi-Fi router stays on. (If you want to see which smart strips actually save you the most money, check out our [Product Reviews] page!)
The Bottom Line You wouldn’t leave a faucet running all day, so why are you leaving your electronics to drain your wallet? Taking control of vampire energy is one of the easiest ways to lower your utility bills this month.