At Halloween, time to vanquish vampire power

Posted by Press Release on October 30, 2015

While you can ward off vampires with garlic alone, a few small changes around your home will keep vampire energy from haunting you this Halloween.

Vampire or “phantom” energy is energy used by computers, televisions, cable/satellite boxes, chargers, and other appliances and devices that continue to use power while powered off but still plugged in. These devices slowly drain energy, even when the products are not in use. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that vampire energy costs customers in the United States more than $10 billion a year.

Minor changes around your home can add up to major savings:

Use a power strip with an on/off switch to completely power down electronics around your home, including DVD players, computers and coffee makers.

Unplug your mobile phone charger, portable music player or other electronics once they are fully charged.

When preparing for out-of-town travel, always unplug all nonessential devices.

Look for the ENERGY STAR^® label on home appliances, electronics and other products, which meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Finally, discover where energy vampires may be haunting your home by taking the PECO Smart Home E-Audit. This free, online tool analyzes a customer’s energy use and provides customized ways to save energy and money. To create your own personal profile with the PECO Smart Home E-Audit, register for MyAccount at peco.com.