An electric “phantom load,” sometimes referred to as an “energy vampire,” is the power consumed by electronic appliances and devices in your home when they are either in standby mode or turned off, but still plugged in and consuming electricity. Phantom power is what keeps such things as your alarm clock going, your television settings intact, and even your microwave or oven clock ticking. The electricity used by these phantom energy loads is reflected in your monthly energy bill.
Most homeowners are unaware of the fact that when you leave some devices and appliances plugged in when not in use, they continue to use a small amount of electricity.
Duck River Electric offers a few easy tips for minimizing the impacts of “energy vampires” at your home or business:
Unplug Appliances, Electronics, and Devices Not in Use – One of the most common culprits of vampire electricity is the cell phone charger. When you are not charging your phone, the electricity is still flowing through the plugged-in charger, even if it is disconnected from your phone. Today’s typical household may have more than one phone charger plugged in, which means the wasted energy is even greater. Create a new habit of unplugging the charger from the outlet once the phone has been fully charged.
Standby Mode – Many of us have the impression that when printers, laptops, or computers are in sleep mode or standby mode they are not using energy. Sleep/standby mode is not a substitute for turning the power off when powering down computers, laptops, or printers. Although it may be quite enticing to take advantage of these settings, these devices are still partially in the ‘on mode’ and use a small amount of electricity. When turning these devices completely off, you can reduce the “phantom load” and save money on your monthly bill.
