DIY Energy Efficiency: Put Vampire Loads to Bed

Vampire loads come from devices that use electricity even when they appear to be off. The primary culprits are chargers, instant-on TVs and gaming systems. These vampire loads can make up 10% of an average household’s electric use, but there are ways to stop the drain.

Chargers: Obviously, when your device is charging, the charger is using electricity, but you might be surprised to learn that chargers still use small amounts of energy even when they’re not connected to a device. So unplug them after use.

Instant-on TV: The instant-on feature allows instant gratification for the viewer, with no waiting for the TV to turn on and warm up. Unfortunately, for that convenience, the TV must be on at nearly full power.  

Gaming consoles: The typical gaming console can use as much energy as a refrigerator even when it’s not being used. Make sure to check the console settings and disable automatic updates, which is where the energy drain comes from. 

For TVs, gaming systems and set-top boxes, using a smart power strip can make a big difference. If you have the TV in the master outlet, when you turn it on, the set-top box, speakers, streaming devices, etc., will turn on too.

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