As autumn descends and temperatures start to get chilly, several homeowners ignore a simple way to cut through their electric costs; by unplugging appliances which draw power even when not in use. Called phantom power, vampire energy, or standby power, this phenomenon occurs when an appliance remains plugged in and consumes electricity through the clock circuit day and night, even when turned off.
Vampire energy consumption accounts for up to 10% of the total electricity consumption in an average American household, according to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The U.S. Department of Energy projects that unplugging devices will cut standby power, resulting in average household savings ranging from $100 to $200 annually. Barrett Abramow, project manager at Grounded Electric, estimates that unplugging or cutting standby power can save households anywhere between $50 and $150 per year.
Summer appliances to unplug this fall
As summer is coming to a close, you should target certain seasonal appliances for the first unplugging. Abrams specifically recommends unplugging window air-conditioning units, portable fans, dehumidifiers, and outdoor entertainment systems such as patio TVs or Bluetooth speakers. “Another one people overlook is the pool pump. It can be a huge energy draw if it’s still running daily after the swim season ends,” he says.
The pool pump is one of the most significant vampires when it comes to energy. Conventional single-speed pool pumps can use upwards of 5,000 kWh annually, costing about $450-$500 per year in electricity. Many homeowners forget to change the scheduling of their pumps for days after the swimming season closes or, worse still, simply forget about them altogether. Hundreds of dollars worth of fine energy are therefore deemed to be turning to waste.
Window air conditioning units should be removed completely once outdoor temperature consistently drops below 62°F, for most units will not be able to operate efficiently in colder temperatures. Leaving them plugged in wastes energy and allows cold drafts to enter your home, which forces your heating system to work harder.
Year-round energy sucker
Beyond the seasonal appliances, there are innumerable gadgets on an everyday basis that continue sucking power throughout the year. Kitchen appliances are some of the worst offenders: microwaves, coffee-makers, toaster ovens, and electric can openers. They maintain digital clocks or instant-on capability and constantly draw power.
In your entertainment center, cable boxes, gaming consoles, TVs, and stereo components go immediately to standby mode when “turned off”; yet, they are at the ready for remote control operations. Printers, scanners, and computers also remain drawing the same standby power for maintaining network connections and settings.
Such electronic chargers for phones, tablets, and laptop are more treacherous; they consume electricity even without an attached device. If a charger feels warm when no device is plugged in, it is consuming energy.
Smart solutions for energy management
The good news is that some smart power strips and smart power plugs can do the trick for you, preventing the need for unplugging. These devices turn off power to electronics drawing standby energy without requiring much further attention. Abramow cautions; however, “not all smart plugs are equal—some lower-quality ones, and overloaded strips, may consume energy themselves.”
In households with many devices, it makes it easier to group similar electronics. Your TV, cable box, and gaming console could all be plugged into a single power strip, which you can turn off with the press of a single button.
Maximizing the energy savings this fall
This fall is a perfect time for conducting energy reconnaissance in a home. The energy reconnaissance should begin with seasonal appliances that consume high energy, like pool pumps and AC units, followed by addressing year-round appliances in the kitchen and entertainment areas.
Individually, these small appliances can account for about $100 a year in energy wasted by remaining plugged in all the time. While this may seem like paltry savings in isolation, the number adds significantly over all devices in a household. As Abramow said, “It may not sound like a ton, but it adds up… Just being intentional about unplugging or using smart power strips can make a real difference over time.”
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