Slaying Energy Vampires Can Save You Money and Help the Environment

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is urging consumers to be on the lookout for energy vampires—electronic products such as power adapters and cell-phone chargers that continue to suck up electricity even when they are not being used.

Energy vampires are easy to spot and easy to slay, according to the EPA, and “every energy vampire you vanquish saves you money, helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and helps in the fight against climate change.”

The average U.S. household spends $100 annually to power devices while they are “off” or in standby mode. Nationally, standby power accounts for more than 100 billion kilowatt hours of U.S. electricity consumption every year and more than $10 billion in annual energy costs.

The EPA recommends three simple steps to help you protect your home and office from energy vampires:

1. Unplug power adapters or battery chargers when equipment is fully charged or disconnected from the charger.

2. Use a power strip that can be switched off when electronics and appliances are not in use.

3. Look for the Energy Star label when purchasing products powered by electricity.

For more information about slaying energy vampires and saving energy, see the Energy Star web site.