Did you know that there are some appliances that will keep on using electricity even after you have turned them off? In fact, studies show that about 75% of the total electricity usage in homes is through switched-off devices in the United States. Read on to find out more.
What Is Vampire Energy?
Vampire power is energy that is used by appliances when they are turned off. Ideally, when you switch an appliance off, it should power off and stop consuming electricity. However, this is not always the case. There are some devices that will keep running in the background and increase your home’s electricity usage. In some instances, these devices can even account for around 20% of your home’s total usage. This vampire power is also referred to by electrical contractors as standby power.
Why Do Devices Leak Energy?
There are several reasons why devices keep on using energy even when you power them off. The majority of these devices have a standby mode. This means that when you shut them down, they don’t power off all the way. Instead, they get into standby mode waiting for the next time you switch them on again. If the device is connected to the internet, it can use this time to perform updates, connect to remote servers, and record data.
Dealing With Vampire Electricity
Vampire electricity can lead to a significant increase in your energy bills. Fortunately, there are ways to deal with this phenomenon. For instance, electrical contractors recommend that you connect all your appliances to power strips. When you retire to bed, you can totally remove everything from the power source. This will stop any electric seepage and be more effective than unplugging each of your devices and connecting them again the next morning. Apart from this method, you can also get Energy Star certified appliances. These appliances do not have a vampire power mode. This means that when you shut them down they stop using electricity entirely.
Vampire electricity is responsible for a significant amount of energy loss. It is important to ensure that you find electrical contractors who can eliminate it in your home as much as you can. This will go a long way in reducing your energy bill. If you need help dealing with vampire power in your home, contact us today.
