Cut Down Energy Use While You’re Sleeping

Electric appliances and equipment use electricity even when they’re not in use. This kind of energy use is known by various names, such as called phantom load, standby power, vampire power, and leaking electricity.

Manufacturers haven’t found solutions for this problem of electrical leakage. While it’s a small amount, if you have a large number of appliances it can add up.

Here are some examples of electric equipment that continually sap energy when not in use:

• Microwaves

These convenient ovens have a lighted screen with a digital clock display when you’re not using it. It takes power to keep the numbers lit.

• Cordless phones and answering machines

Both of these pieces of equipment remain in “standby mode,” awaiting a telephone call. They also have display screens that are never off.

• Cell phone chargers

Even when your charger is not plugged into your cell phone, it is using electricity. Have you ever noticed your charger becoming warm even when it is just plugged into the wall?

• Stoves

Like microwaves, many modern stoves have lighted displays that show the time.

• Computers, desk top and laptop

Do you turn your computer screen off as well as your computer hard drive? If not, the screen remains in standby mode and is using power. Turning off the hard drive and leaving it plugged in also uses a small amount of electricity. Laptops, left plugged in, are continually using power to charge their batteries.

• Power adapters

If your equipment’s power adapter does not have an “off” switch, it is using power even when it is plugged into the wall and not into the equipment.

• Routers

If you have a wireless system in your home, the router is always using power as it transmits its wireless signal.

• DVD players and VCRs

These small appliances remain in standby mode constantly, even when turned off, so that they can received a remote control signal at any time. They often have the ubiquitous digital clock display that is continually lit.

• Televisions

Of course, your television needs to be ready to respond to a remote control at any time, so it remains on standby, sucking power.

• Stereos

Many stereos also have lighted screen displays that use electricity, and if they are remote-control compatible then they are always on standby.

• Hand-held vacuum cleaner

These are handy, but the constant charging from wall to vacuum draws power.

The above appliances are small and not subject to energy-efficient regulations the way major appliances (such as refrigerators) are.

What you can do?

Simply unplugging appliances and equipment that are not in use is the easiest solution, but one that will take getting used to. It helps to plug equipment into power strips that can be switched off, so you don’t have to comb the house every night night to unplug all your appliances and equipment.

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