Special Guest Blogger: The Energy Guy at UGI

You don’t have to be a “Twilight” fan to understand the expression “Energy Vampire”.

It sounds a little scary, especially if you think about the money that is being sucked from your wallet each year because of this phenomenon.

For those who aren’t familiar with the expression, it is used to describe the energy used by some products when they are turned off but still plugged in. It is also sometimes referred to as “phantom load” or “standby power”.

It seems misleading, but an “off” switch doesn’t always actually mean “off”, particularly with newer electronics and appliances. Many appliances and devices actually go into standby mode when turned off, which continue to draw power.

There are all kinds of places throughout your home that are sucking up energy, even when not in use or turned off: chargers for cell phones, cameras, mp3 players, tablets, batteries and power tools; TV, VCR, DVR, stereo, gaming consoles, alarm clocks, coffee makers, toasters and toaster ovens and garage door openers, to name a few.

The computer and all of the home office electronics that go along with it are also big culprits: computers and monitors, fax machines and printers (all of which are still drawing power, even if they are in “sleep” mode).

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

Several of our readers suggested this simple way to save energy and money in the home when we asked for energy saving tips in our Programmable Thermostat contest in January:

The first solution: Unplug electronics when not in use.

Another way to slay the energy vampires: The power strip (the proverbial “wooden stake” in this instance).

For instance, you could add a power strip in the entertainment area of the home, where your TV, DVD, DVR, gaming consoles and stereo are located. You might also consider adding one in the office/computer area and even in the kitchen where coffee pots, toasters and other kitchen appliances are located. Here’s another idea: Establish a designated “charging area” in a convenient spot in your home, equipped with a power strip, where all of your electronic devices and power tools can be charged.

So instead of having to go through the house, crawling behind furniture and moving things around every time you are finished using a device, unplugging everything one at a time, this simply requires the flip of a the switch on the power strip.

Not sure doing this will actually make a difference? We suggest you give it a shot. Try it for a month or two and compare your savings.

We think you’ll see some savings, which will add up over time, especially if you have a home that is filled with gadgets.