Got Vampires?

How Many Vampires Are in Your House?

You might think that vampires only come out at night or during Halloween. Well, guess what? They’re everywhere, using energy in your house all of the time, 24 hours a day — 7 days a week. In fact, about 10% of the electricity used in your home goes to the energy vampires.

What Are Energy Vampires?

Energy vampires are things in your house that consume electricity all of the time, even when they are turned off or not being used. TVs, VCRs, DVD players, computers/printers, stereos, microwaves, coffee machines, washers/dryers, rechargeable power tools, and many others are the everyday secret users of vampire energy. You think you have turned them off, but they are still running.

In fact, did you know that a TV with a remote uses energy while the TV is off? Or, that cell phone, iPod, and laptop computer chargers that are left plugged in are using energy even when they are not charging anything? And don't forget about those little clocks on microwaves and DVD players — using energy with every blinking second. All of these energy vampires are costing your family money.

According to energy experts, the amount of electricity used by vampire consumers can add up quickly. Vampire energy may cost your family more than $100 per year in electricity bills.

So, What Can You Do?

• Start by unplugging your electronic devices (appliances) directly from wall outlets when not in use. Instead of turning your electronic devices off one-at-a-time, make the job easier by plugging all of your electronics into a power strip or two. Then "switch off" the power strip after you have finished using the item(s). (Don't worry; this will not harm your electronics.
• If you are not going to be using your computer for a while and don't want to shut it down, simply turn off your monitor. Remember, screen savers do not reduce the amount of energy used.
• Whenever possible, try to use natural light during the day, turn lights off when you are not using them.
• If you know someone who is planning to buy a new appliance like a refrigerator or dishwasher, make sure they look for ones that have earned the EnergyStar® — they use less energy, sometimes half as much, to do the same work.

The Energy Star® logo is a blue sticker that can be found on the on the appliance itself or on the box it is packed in. You can also check the yellow Energy Guide Label that shows how much energy the appliance will use and then compare it with others.

We all know that money does not grow on trees! So, beware of energy vampires, and do not let them continue to suck energy from your home!

Learn more about saving energy at home on the Department of Energy's Kids Saving Energy and Energy Star Kids websites.

Last Revised: October 2009
Sources: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Standby Power (http://www.standby.lbl.gov/standby.html), 2009.
Energy Star – U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (http://energystar.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/energystar.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=5493), October 2009.