Appliances that Use Power When Turned Off

Some electronic appliances use energy when turned off, and can account for five to ten percent of household costs. Known as "instant-on" or standby appliances, they can be found all over the modern home. Here are some of the most common vampire appliances:

TVs
VCRs
DVDs
Portable stereos
Cordless phone chargers
Microwave ovens
Clock radios
Answering machines
Computer modems
Laptops plugged in
Space heaters
Cell phone chargers
Baby Monitors
Portable cordless power tool chargers
Garage door openers

Any external power supply, the little black cube which has two plugs, will use electrical power while not performing the intended function. Most consumers are not aware that vampire appliances continue to draw electricity when turned off.

The standby power of a computer monitor costs an average of $57 a year, when the computer is shut down overnight and on weekends. If the computer's sleep function is used, the power costs about $40 a year for those nights and weekends, costing almost as much a year for the nights and weekends as it costs to run the computer on weekdays.

Costs to the United States

A report by Cornell University states that it takes the equivalent of seven electrical generating plants just to supply the electricity needed to support standby power. A cost to consumers is about $3 billion a year. Even though the newer appliances use less power, the energy consumed by instant-on appliances is considerable.

Looking for Vampire Appliances

Look for appliances that have features of remote controls, continuous digital displays, rechargeable batteries or soft-touch keypads. The EnergyStarwebsite has lists of electronic appliances that use less standby power.

Saving Energy with Vampire Appliances

1) Unplug an appliance that is not frequently used. A TV located in the guest bedroom can be unplugged.
2) Use power strips (surge protector) for clusters of products (computer, video). All can be switched to zero with one simple action.
3) Check with EnergyStar before shopping for new appliances.
4) Purchase a low cost watt-meter to measure each device to determine the biggest energy vampires. Take appropriate action. These measures can reduce energy consumption by 30 percent or more.

Vampire or stand-by appliances help drain the household budget. Take measures to identify and locate the appliance. Take any possible measures to reduce the amount of energy used while the appliance is not in use and save on overall household expenses. "Off" does not mean off any more.