Some people are surprised to find that appliances and electronics can drain energy even when they’re not on but merely plugged in. An amazing 10% of your electric bill comes from appliances and devices that aren’t even turned on. There may be as many as 50 of these energy vampires in a home. Here are some you may consider unplugging when they’re not in use to save money.
Anything Operated By Remote Control
Any appliance or device that responds to your remote control is still basically “on” even when it’s off. This can include your television, set top box, DVD player, and air conditioning unit. If you don’t use these items regularly, it’s best to unplug them.
Your Computer
When you put a computer into “sleep” mode, it’s merely sleeping. Because it’s not completely powered off, it’s still using energy to make sure that apps and programs remain active. The sleep mode also lets the computer be turned on at a touch of a button. Put the computer in shut down mode, and unplug it if you’re not going to use it for a while.
Coffee Maker
Having a coffee maker preset to have a steaming cup of joe ready for you when you wake up is a dream, but when the coffee maker isn’t making coffee, it’s using up energy. This is especially true if the coffee maker has a clock. Unplug it when it’s not in use.
Printer
Many people leave their printer in standby mode so that it can be ready to print whenever. If it’s going to be a while before you print something, turn off the printer and unplug it. This also goes for wireless printers.
Microwave
Microwave ovens, like any other appliance that displays the time, draws power even when it’s not doing the task it was made to do. Unplug it if it’s not going to be used for a while.
Chargers
Chargers, whether to a cellphone or a portable light or power tool, draw power when they’re plugged in. It doesn’t matter if they’re not powering up a device. Pull them out of the outlet if they’re not being used.
Space Heaters
Winter nights can be chilly in Camarillo, and residents may have need for a space heater every now and then. Space heaters gobble up energy and are somewhat hazardous when they’re turned on. Every HVAC professional and electrician will tell you to unplug a space heater if it’s not being used.
Call Us to Learn What to Do About Energy Vampires
Our electricians are proud to have served the businesses and residents of Camarillo for over 25 years. We’ll not only give you tips on how to conserve energy and thus lower your energy bills, but we’ll also perform all manner of electrical services. This includes generator and electrical panel service, lighting, and remodeling. Call us at Economy Lighting and Electric today to learn more.
