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Slay the energy vampires in your home
Even when these appliances are off, they're using energy.
"Vampire" appliances use electricity even when they are "off" by going into standby mode. According to the Department of Energy, vampire appliances and electronics account for 10% of energy used in an average home. When you include all homes in the U.S., that totals about 52 billion kWh per year or about 26 average-size power plants.
Top 5 energy vampires
- Computers and computer-related equipment (modems, routers, etc.)
- Instant-on TVs (LED, LCD and rear-projection). Rule of thumb, larger screens use more energy
- Surround sound systems
- Cable or satellite TV boxes
- Household items with a clock (e.g. microwave, DVD player, etc.)
How to identify energy vampires
- An external power supply
- A remote control
- A continuous display (including an LED), such as a clock
- Charges batteries
How can you stop energy vampires?
- Unplug appliances and electronics, especially cell phone chargers and video game systems, when not in use.
- Use power strips that will turn off all appliances (TVs, cable/satellite boxes and DVD players) or electronics (all computer equipment) plugged into them.
- Turn off routers, printers and other peripheral computer equipment when not in use.
How much do vampire appliances cost?
What kind of bite do energy vampires take out of your pocketbook? Use the calculator below to find out.
| Appliance | Avg. Annual Consumption Standby Mode (kWh) | Avg. Annual Household Cost | No. of Appliances in your home | Annual appliance cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cable / satellite box | 128 | $12.85 | $0.00 | |
| Stereo | 128 | $12.85 | $0.00 | |
| Clock radio | 18 | $ 1.81 | $0.00 | |
| DVD player | 59 | $ 5.92 | $0.00 | |
| Computer | 16 | $ 1.61 | $0.00 | |
| Printer | 70 | $ 7.03 | $0.00 | |
| Routers & modems | 102 | $10.24 | $0.00 | |
| Microwave | 26 | $ 2.61 | $0.00 | |
| Garage door opener | 24 | $ 2.41 | $0.00 | |
| 52" - 65" Rear projection TV | 186 | $18.67 | $0.00 | |
| 50" plasma TV | 145 | $14.56 | $0.00 | |
| ANNUAL VAMPIRE ENERGY COST |
$0.00
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