Are Energy Vampire Taps Costing You Money?

Are Energy Vampire Taps Costing You Money?

Vampire taps are in all of our houses right now and chances are, they’re costing you  money.  Many electrical devices use energy in “standby mode” 24 hours a day, even when they’re not in use.  A little extra energy may not seem like a big deal at first thought.  However, each extra item using electricity tacks on a little to your electric bill, making your cost higher for items you aren’t even using!
Common vampire taps include:

• Electric razors and electric toothbrushes
• Computers, monitors, external modems and hard drives
• Fax machines, printers and scanners
• Cell phone chargers
• Telephones and answering machines
• Stoves and microwaves
• Breadmakers and rice cookers
• Clock radios and cable boxes
• TVs, DVD players and DVRs
• Game systems (Wii, PS, Xbox)
• Stereo systems and security systems
• Baby monitors
• Washing machines
• Battery chargers
• Vacuum cleaners
• Electric lawnmowers
• Garage door openers
• Power tools

What can you do to eliminate energy waste from vampire taps in your home?
First, unplug items you aren’t using.  It seems like a great idea to just unplug everything, but that can be a hassle, especially for hard-to-reach outlets.  One suggestion is to plug multiple cords into one powerstrip (or surge protector) that you can switch off as needed, like before going to bed or leaving the house.
For items that are occasionally used, like power tools, only plug them in to get a full charge when you’re going to use them.  Store occasional use items unplugged at other times. Let your kids do the Energy Hog training online.