You might think you have done everything you possibly can to improve the energy efficiency in your home, including installing compact fluorescent light bulbs and having your Miami electrician install a programmable thermostat. But it’s likely that you haven’t even thought about a number of energy vampires that are sitting around sucking energy even when not in use.
Cellphone chargers
Cellphone chargers are ubiquitous, as nearly every home in America has at least one cellphone. But they also are energy vampires sucking electricity even when not in use. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, cellphone chargers use 0.26 watts yearly on average when not in use. If you leave a fully charged phone on the charger, it sucks up 2.24 watts on average.
Computers
If you are one of those people who constantly leaves computers on, you are losing a lot of money on energy costs. The Department of Energy estimates that shutting off your computers or even just putting them on sleep mode can save you up to $100 a year.
Cable boxes
Most people shut off their TV when they are done watching it but may never even think about shutting off their cable box. But doing so is a good idea. Leaving your cable box on can cost you an extra $18 a year. If your cable box has DVR capability, the energy suck more than doubles, with the Department of Energy estimating you’ll spend more than $43 extra over the course of a year.
Plasma TV
One of the worst energy vampires is a plasma screen TV. The Department of Energy estimates that when in active standby mode, these devices cost you an extra $160 a year, or about $3 more a month. Unplugging your plasma TV can save you a lot of money.
To ensure you are saving as much energy as possible, consult with an electrician in Miami for tips.