Like so many other homeowners, you're actively seeking ways to reduce your home's electric bill. Most people think that changing to energy-efficient light bulbs or turning off the lights when you leave a room will reward you with savings. However, what you may not realize is that most homes have energy vampires lurking within them.
Yes, vampires. Not the ones you see in the movies or on television, but ones that slowly suck electrical power from your home without you even realizing it. This constant slow drain of electricity can add up to $100 a year of your electric bill, according to the U.S. Department of Energy's website Energy.gov. This is especially true if you're one of the average households in America that owns at least 25 electronic devices.
Common examples of energy vampires in your home are chargers for cell phones, mp3 players, laptops, and tablets that are kept plugged in all the time. Electronics such as televisions, cable boxes, desktop computers/monitors, and video game consoles that are on standby are also culprits when it comes to sucking up energy while not in use.
One way to solve this situation is to unplug all your chargers when not in use. If they're all located in one area, simply plug them all into a power strip that you can just turn off.
When shopping for other home electronics, make sure to purchase those that have Energy Star certification. Energy Star-certified products feature the lowest power consumption while in standby mode.
You may also want to plug your electronics into a power strip that you can turn off without having to go through the trouble of unplugging. There are even smart power strips available that allow you to keep several items on standby while others have their power shut down.
Learn more about the energy vampires in your home and other energy-saving tips from Joe Behr Plumbing & Heating, Inc. We have been providing professional and courteous service to the Mid-Ohio area since 1965.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about energy savings and other HVAC topics, visit our website.
Joe Behr Plumbing and Heating, Inc. services the Mid-Ohio area.
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