9.1.09 Tuesdays Tiny Green Tip

September 1, 2009

Get your vampires under control.
Typically, 20% of  the average American’s power bill is generated by the small appliances we own, such as computers, home audio systems, DVD players, all the good stuff. To save energy and money, unplug all of your appliances, even when they’re turned off. Televisions, microwaves and computers in particular suck up power even when you’re not tuned in. Appliances with internal clocks, LED displays or remote controls are culprits, but so are refrigerators and many other small appliances. (Even your phone charger is guilty). Known as Standby Power, Phantom Load or Vampire Power, these guys suck your power 24/7, even while your’re sleeping. Creepy, huh?. Imagine your appliances multiplied by millions of households. Yep, the small things matter.

To help you save some bucks, and get a little peace of mind about all of those carbon emissions, unplug at least your biggest culprit. It would be tough to go about plugging and unplugging, so instead of running around, install a power strip that connects your main offenders. Then one flip of the switch will be all that is needed to nip that Vampire guy. They actually make Smart strips that will cut power to computer peripherals when the computer is shut down, or some of them will detect when a device hasn’t been used for a certain amount of time, and kill the juice. Pretty smart, huh?

Filed under: Eco Around the House,Saving Energy,Tiny Green Tips,Uncategorized

Tags: electricity, energy conservation, power, save money