(PCM) Do you unplug your electronics, chargers, and other small household appliances before heading off to work for the day? If you don’t, you’re wasting energy referred to as “phantom energy.” Sounds pretty scary, huh?
Although the energy used for a single device is small, think about all the electronic devices in your home; it adds up! Left unmanaged – as in plugged in 24/7 – these devices could actually make an impact on your bills. Phantom energy can account for 15% or more of the total electricity used by these gadgets, and cccording to electric companies, you can save phantom energy and up to $50 per year by plugging your devices into a power strip. This ensures that the devices are truly “off”.
The best option is to invest in what’s called an advanced power strip. It’s similar to a regular power strip except for a few energy distinct features:
– The first plug type acts as the control and master plug, usually for your TV or computer’s CPU.
– The second plug type is for your peripherals, such as audio/DVD or computer monitors/printers. These devices will be automatically turned off when the control plug has been shut off or is inactive from sleep mode on your computer.
– The third plug type remains constantly active for those products needing constant power.
Unplugging your household devices doesn’t require much effort or sacrifice, and it’s an easy way to save energy and money; it may not be much per household, but think about the combined impact it would have on our energy use as a whole!
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