Vampire power. Phantom load. Ghost load.
These spooky terms are all names for the power drawn by always-on appliances and devices in your home, such as your cable box, coffee maker, or DVD player (this is more formally referred to as “standby load”).
If you are a conscientious energy user – and if you are reading this blog you probably are – you will want to pay attention to a recent Powerly article about vampire power that reveals just how much energy your appliances use when they are not doing a whole lot for you in your Connecticut home (hint: it’s more than you think).
According to the Powerly study, small adjustments in “on” time for common home appliances reduced the estimated annual standby cost of these devices by nearly 58 percent – a significant number for such a minimal investment of time and effort (you can read the complete details of their findings here). The takeaway: If you’re serious about getting down to the nitty gritty of energy efficiency, look no further than your power outlets.
So what are the best ways to reduce phantom load in your home? Let’s break down some solutions room by room:
Always-on devices in your home are using energy and sucking up a significant amount of your hard-earned money in the process. But with a few simple adjustments, you can kill your vampires and become a smarter home energy user!
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* $174 for oil or propane heated homes.
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