It’s not as strange a question as you might think. Vampires suck blood and rob energy from their host. That’s what plug-in electronics do in your home. All the cell phones, laptops, music players, and power tool chargers we have use energy when they are plugged into an electrical socket even if they’re not recharging anything. That’s true of other electronics as well, such as your television and DVD player for their standby capability, or appliances with digital clock or radio displays like your microwave or coffee maker – any appliance that has an ongoing electrical need.
According to ENERGY STAR, in an office building all those devices can account for 60-80% of a building’s energy use. In your home, your plugged in electronics contribute to larger than necessary electricity bills.
It’s not just a forum for stripped down music MTV Unplugged style, it’s removing the energy vampires when they’re not in use from the system. Consolidate all of your recharging devises onto one power strip, that way you can flick one switch when you want to turn them all off.
Similarly, seek out televisions and other electronic equipment that draw the least amount for standby power. You can usually find out the number by checking the label on the back of the product. There’s no point in wasting energy, especially since we all want a cooler planet.