The electricity bill is high again this month, and you have no idea how it can be possible. Like a responsible user, you are always on your toes to save electricity around the house. It can be surprising to know that the culprits are present in the same space and they can be energy vampires.
An energy vampire is an appliance that uses energy even when we think it is idle. The end result is ‘vampire power’ which adds to your monthly bill. Once this electronic item is charged, we think it is not using any power. However, power still flows around the device through the switch, also called ‘phantom energy’.
Does every appliance use vampire energy?
On an average, there are up to 20 energy vampires plugged into a household. This situation can spike up 20 percent of your bill. The ‘stand by’ mode of many devices fools us, and we think that it is okay to leave them plugged on. Even on standby, these devices are installing updates, connecting to servers and recording data. This problem was not as defined in the former years, because of low internet connectivity.
The digital age requires us to stay connected all the time and putting our devices to charge often. Most of our devices are ‘waiting in idle mode’ for us to switch them back on so they can perform their duty. A regular supply of power ensures that a particular device performs its duty as quickly as it can. It looks like a handy feature but can cost you a lot of money annually in electricity bill. Thus, one of the main culprits is the standby mode.
Spotting energy vampires
Remote devices are the most common sources of leaking vampire energy. Since they are a remote tap away, we often forget to plug them off because of comfort. Let’s go room-to-room in a common household and spot these energy vampires.
Kitchen
Your kitchen is one of the main places where these vampires hide. Thankfully, it is easy to spot them and deal with the situation. Many appliances with built-in digital clocks suck energy to keep the clock updated.
Examples of such appliances include:
- Coffee maker
- Fridge
- Microwave
- Oven
The microwave uses more energy to run the clock than it does to warm your food in seconds! When you do the math and add up all the energy wasted on the clock, you will see the result yourself. It is time to unplug the kitchen energy vampires and save up.
The tip to use all of these devices quickly is to attach them to a single power strip and use the strip to turn all devices on at once. When you are done, you can shut them off with only one power button. Another tip is to look for basic models without digital clocks or energy-star certified models that have low standby energy.
Lounge
You spend most of your time in your lounge handing out with great options like https://s-bobet.com, and it is a place of comfort. If your home entertainment system is also plugged in here, we might have an energy vampire in hiding. Some examples are:
- TV
- DVR
- Game console
- Stereo
A plasma TV can cost you $150 annually on standby energy. Americans spend $19 billion on standby TV and Cable box every year. Think of all the ways in which you can spend that cash. Just like the kitchen, you can put all these devices on a power strip and connect it to the switch nearest to your couch.
Nowadays, there are applications and energy counters that update you on power consumed by each device. Be smart and use a solution that suits you best. Smart solutions like energy counters take things into their own hands and turn your devices off when idle. In the morning or as programmed, the counter will turn the devices on so you can use them. This solution is favorable for recording programs in the background or installing updates.
Bedroom
By now, you must know that anything with a digital clock is an energy vampire. Your cellphone charger and air conditioning unit are commonly plugged in the bedroom. These devices can be the common bedroom energy vampires. If you have a guest bedroom, you should turn off all the appliances and devices in this room until someone visits.
In your own bedroom, turn off all chargers when you are not using them. Applications and smart mobile chargers once again come in handy and turn off all devices when you are not using them. Do not hold bedside lamps accountable, because these guys use very little energy. So, you can leave the night lamp on without a worry.
Bathroom
For saving energy and maintaining safety, unplug the hairdryer after each use. Experts suggest using a timed switch in the bathroom that turns energy off after you exit. This way, you will never worry about leaving the hair straightener on in the work meeting! Other vampires include:
- Toothbrush charger
- Razor charger
- Digital weighing scale
- Curling iron
- Bluetooth speaker on charge
A big energy vampire in the bathroom is the electric water heater. It sucks up a lot of energy when idle. Some habits that can reduce the phantom energy are to wash hands with cold water, do laundry with cold water and take shorter hot showers.
Garage
You think there might be no energy vampires lying out in the harmless garage space. It is time to think again. Everyone who uses power tools in the house must plug them off once they are done using. This includes the following:
- Electric drill
- Electric saw
- Focused Lights
- Electric screwdrivers
The electric car must stay plugged to complete charging, because it is a necessity. You can use a power strip for the garage as well and turn off all devices with one button when leaving the place.
What Else Can You Do?
Aside from stopping these energy vampires from sucking up valuable energy, you can utilize off-peak hours to save money and reduce your household’s power demand. Programs like these transfer savings to the customer in the shape of reduced electricity rates or rebates. For example, smart household energy management systems enable homeowners to choose when and how their properties consume energy. Do you need something fun to do then check out paypal casino uk on your phone which doesn’t take much energy.
If you sign up for such a program, it might cost you the actual price of energy at any single instance, spanning from cost savings during off-peak hours to high prices during peak periods. If you’re able to change your power consumption routine to off-peak hours, you can save a lot of money. This can be done by running the dishwasher and the washing machine early morning or late evening.
Bottom line
We walked into each room of your house to point out the common energy vampires. The most common tip is to unplug and switch off anything that you are not using (not the refrigerator!). Also, consider time-based consumption as it can help you generate long-term savings. You may also want to check out solar power options if you’re looking to save money for the foreseeable future.