Phantom power, phantom energy, vampire power – regardless of what you call it, it’s true that energy is still used by appliances and electronics when they are turned off if they are still plugged into a power outlet. Take your TV for instance – even when it isn’t on, the very fact that you have it plugged into your power source encourages the transfer of energy, which, you guessed it, is reflected in your monthly bill.

If you’ve ever left your computer charger or phone charger plugged into the wall and thought that it was warm to the touch later in the day (even when it wasn’t charging anything), that’s another example of vampire power at work. According to energy.gov, the average charger consumes .26 watts of energy when not in use.

So what can you do?

There are a few ways that you can win the fight against vampire power and ultimately lower your energy costs, but one of the easiest is to use a surge protector or power strip – especially in places of your home where you have a ton of things plugged in (behind your TV, for example). Whenever you aren’t using the devices plugged into the power strip, all you have to do is turn it off. When you think about it, this is much easier than having to individually unplug each device from an outlet, so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t consider using power strips in your home!

In addition to implementing this strategy, you may also benefit from switching over to some energy-efficient devices and appliances. At a time where many homeowners are looking for ways to be more energy-efficient, we’re sure you can find what you need if you look hard enough!

Still have questions about vampire power or other topics relating to your home’s energy use and power? Then connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+! As one of Suffolk County’s expert team of electricians, we strive to share our knowledge on topics such as this with our readers on a regular basis.

TFC Electric Inc. is a full service commercial and residential electrician serving all of Suffolk County, NY. For information about the services offered, please call (631) 589-2800 today.