This is an amazing fact:
Your house can be awake while you sleep.
This isn’t because of anything supernatural.
Your adolescent didn’t steal food at night.
But from something more sneaky: the might of a vampire.
“Standby power” is the power that goes into gadgets even while they are off. Yes, it is.
How about your TV? using electricity even when it’s “off.”
And what about the coffee maker? thinking about the coffee you’ll brew tomorrow and expending energy to make it happen.
Is the charger for your phone still working? The charger is plugged in, but it’s not plugged into the phone. People are still drinking juice.
What kind of power do vampires have? (And Why It Costs You Money)
This is the energy that devices utilize when they are not in use. It is also known as phantom load, standby power, or leaking electricity.
They are “off,” but they are still working together.
They are on standby, just like your TV is when you don’t have the remote.
They have lights, clocks, or other things that turn on immediately away.
They are charging, but nothing is plugged in.
Some of the most common reasons are:
Chargers for phones and computers that are connected in but not being used
TVs
with smart features, sound bars, and game consoles
Coffee makers with digital clocks
Computers, printers, and monitors
Chargers for controllers, toothbrushes, and vacuums
Microwaves, like the glowing clock,
These little creatures can use up 5–10% of the electricity in your home every year. That’s like paying for a room you never use.
How much can you actually save?
Let’s
Taking a break won’t make you rich.
But it can save you between $100 and $200 a year, depending on how you set it up.
Here are the pricing of several well-known devices that are just sitting there:
A gaming system, like an Xbox or PS5
$30 to $60
Box for cable or satellite
$40 to $80
A clock on a coffee maker
$10 to $15
Charger for laptop (always plugged in)
Five to ten dollars
TV and sound bar
From $25 to $50
Is it possible to accomplish that on more than one device? That’s real money that keeps leaving your wallet.
But wait—don’t unplug everything!
Before you start unplugging everything, here are certain things you should leave plugged in:
Refrigerator/Freezer: Medical devices like oxygen machines and CPAPs need to be kept secure and powered. If you don’t want your kitchen to smell bad and your things to be messy, don’t leave them out. You can use a router if you need Wi-Fi all night. You can set it to turn off baby monitors or security systems. First, safety. Modem/router (if you have smart home devices)
Some electronics, like your cable box, take a long time to restart. So, think about how much money you can save and how easy it is to use.
How to Stop the Suck (Without Going Crazy)
You don’t have to be a ninja at outlets. Just be clever.
1.Use smart power strips.
These cut off power to “slave” gadgets when the primary device stops working.
For example, turning off your TV cuts power to the speaker, game console, and streaming box.
2.Put all of your gadgets on one strip.
Kitchen counter? One strip should be able to accommodate the coffee maker, toaster, and blender. At night, turn it off.
Place to have fun? One switch shuts down the whole system.
3.Unplug chargers when you aren’t using them.
It only takes two seconds, honestly. Make it a habit, like brushing your teeth.
4.Pick devices that don’t require a lot of power when they’re not in use.
When you get new electronics, watch for:
The ENERGY STAR® label (they limit how much power they use when they’re not in use)
There are no dazzling lights, only basic on/off switches.
5.Follow the “Last One Out” Rule.
Before you go to bed or leave the house, do a quick check: “Did I turn off the things that aren’t needed?”