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BPU Says Energy Vampires Never Sleep

BPU Says Energy Vampires Never Sleep

BPU Says Energy Vampires Never Sleep

(KANSAS CITY, Kan.) —What is an energy vampire? An energy vampire is a device that continues to use energy and drain power, even when it is turned off. It’s spooky season, which means the weather is getting colder and days are getting shorter, leading you to spend more time at home, increasing your energy usage.

There are the obvious things you can do to better manage your energy use during this time, like seal your windows, set your thermostats and pile on the blankets. But what about the not-so-obvious ways to combat high energy consumption, like combating vampire energy lurking within your home?

Vampire energy is energy leaking in the background that’s wasted from appliances and electronics when they are not in use. These appliances and electronics can take up about 5-10% of the total energy used in your home. In light of it being energy efficiency month, here are some tips to keep your appliances from creating a bill that might shock you:

Unplug devices you don’t use often. While this might not be a smart tactic for your alarm clock, if you have devices in your home you don’t use very often – such as a second television set, stereo or DVD player – consider keeping them unplugged during the times they are not in use.

Invest in power strips when unplugging is an issue or frankly a hassle. Power strips allow for multiple devices to be plugged in at once, so you only have one switch to turn off. For example, as much as we love a good cup of coffee, coffee makers when plugged in are in a standby state running up your utility bill. Same with toasters. Make it easy on yourself by plugging those counter appliances into a single power strip and turning it off after fixing yourself a cup of coffee.

Look for Energy Star certified appliances. They usually carry the Energy Star label and are designed to be more energy efficient. Energy Star qualified appliances use less energy and help protect the environment. The Energy Star logo can be found on everything from light bulbs to refrigerators.

Use energy saver mode on those appliances or devices that offer it. It helps turn off or put your device at rest while you are away. Some appliances such as refrigerators, washer and dryers, and dishwashers have energy saving modes that will consume less energy. Curb idle time by making use of some of the energy-saving features-such as sleep mode-that are commonly built into computers.

Unplugging a few devices probably won’t make too much of an impact. But, if you have a house full of vampire appliances, doing these simple things could pack a big punch in helping you save on your energy bill.

Click here to check out the energy cost calculator. It measures annual energy use and the costs required to operate the appliances in your home. This tool will help you make energy conscious decisions and lower your overall energy footprint.

Looking for more tips to help you save this season? Visit our YouTube channel by clicking here.

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