List of power "vampires"

**baxjul** · 11-01-2007, 08:35 AM

These are the things that are leaching electric, while not in use. Hopefully, you'll find it as helpful as me!

Your home is most likely haunted by power vampires. Most of us have 10 to 30 power vampires, or power leeches—electrical devices that continuously draw power from your power outlets, even when not supplying any useful service. As a simple rule, the more gadgets in your home, the more power vampires. How many of these sneaky, insidious vampires haunt your home?
SIMPLE SOLUTION:
The power consumption of power vampires adds up. A recent study found that together they accounted for 5 to 20 percent of total home power consumption, even exceeding the traditionally higher user (the fridge in some homes.) Power vampires are the fastest-growing power users in our homes.
If you eliminate 90 percent of your power vampires in five years you will save $524, 33,700 pounds of C02, and 5,300 kWh of power.
Always a Power Vampire
Laptop chargers, fax machines, answering machines, printer, TVs, cable boxes, cable modems, modems, VCRs, DVD players, DVD recorders, digital video recorders, photocopier with paper sorter, phone chargers, hubs and routers, iPod chargers, video camera battery charger, night light.
Usually a Power Vampire
LCD monitor, audio system, photocopier without paper sorter, plugged-in electric toys.
May Be a Power Vampire
Desktop computer, CRT monitor, battery charger for AA, AAA, D, C, and 9V batteries (Nickel-Cadmium and Nickel-Metal hydride), boom box, battery chargers for rechargeable devices.
Never a Power Vampire
Incandescent lamps, compact fluorescent lights.

**freyadog** · 11-01-2007, 08:59 AM

Thanks Julie for the heads up. Many on your list, dh and I have on power bars and turn off at night. Taking charge of your home electric use really does save you money. since we have put everything on power bars and turn them off at night our electric bill has not been over 48$ and that is with 2 freezers running and me home all day baking and cooking on electric.

**kittykatstrong** · 11-01-2007, 09:35 AM

I didnt realize that a dvd player woild use power all the time or a phone charger I always left mine plugged in. Not any more.

Katy

**sdrjeolsen** · 11-01-2007, 10:25 AM

Thanks for the list, a good reminder for me to unplug things or put them on a power strip.

**peanut** · 11-01-2007, 11:58 AM

Well you'll be disgusted with us. I knew a lot of this and have almost everything electric on power bars in this house. But no one remembers to turn them off at night! So I just did the rounds and turned off all the power bars except the one I'm using. I think I need to develop a new habit here...

Jean

**Amanda W** · 11-01-2007, 01:21 PM

I too need to be more diligent about turning off the power bars. Thanks for posting!

**redmaples** · 11-01-2007, 01:55 PM

great ideas, thanks for helping us to save $$!!

**PB&J** · 11-01-2007, 04:27 PM

Originally Posted by Amanda W

I too need to be more diligent about turning off the power bars. Thanks for posting!

Me too! THe only one I have a problem with is our cable box. If we turn the power off to it, it takes somethings as long as 10 minutes to reset itself! In the mean time, you can't change the channel or anything. That can be disasterous when a 2 year old knows Wonder Pets is on and wants to watch it right then. lol

**Kitten20** · 11-01-2007, 05:31 PM

Wow... this was really an eye opener for me.

No wonder our electric bills are outrageous. I always just thought what we paid was the norm (well, a little higher) but after reading this and talking to some friends, I am realizing that our bill is huge! We have 75% of what is on that list plugged in constantly. I am definitely going to talk to DBF when he gets home from work and see about getting everything organized onto power strips that we can shut off at night. We do have power strips, I am just not sure how they are all organized b/c he does all of that stuff.

Thanks a million.

**Edna_E** · 11-01-2007, 07:29 PM

I read somwhere that anything that has a remote control or a sleep mode uses a trickle of electricity even when it is turned "off". I started unplugging things (inelegant but free) and my electric bill dropped to under $20.00 a month. I'm a believer!

**EnergyBoomer** · 11-03-2007, 09:52 PM

I also use a power box on my computer table so one switch kills the power to the computer, printer and cable modem.

If you have wall outlets that are controlled by a wall switch that are intended to be used for lights they can be used to shut of electronic vampires that are piggy backed on the the lighting circuit. As example if your TV is plugged into a light switch controlled outlet it will go completely off when the light is switched off.

A stereo sound system that has a remote for control can be plugged in to the outlet that the table lamp is on. Turn the wall light switch off and the lamp and the stereo go dark. No more green glowing digital clock or stand-by mode lights leaking power through the meter onto your bill.

If it has a remote it is using power while waiting for someone to push a button on the remote.

Energy Boomer

**JENROY** · 11-05-2007, 01:00 PM

I just read that leaving your ceiling fans on all day costs about $7/month for each fan!! I always used to leave them on just to keep the air circulating-no more!

**birthgeek** · 11-05-2007, 01:57 PM

Thanks for the list! I've been getting better about this, but now am reminded to be even more vigilant about turning off the power strips. We have one tv that has to be reprogrammed for channels every time it loses power, but there's no reason I can't put everything else on the power strip! (stereo, DVD player, DVR). Just the other night I noticed two ancient VCRs that DH uses for a side job/hobby, that were always plugged in! So I've yanked their cords and am excited to see if that makes any (even small) difference. Too bad I didn't notice them a year ago, oh well!