Everyone knows hanging around a vampire will likely end up [literally] getting the life sucked out of you.
Why then do we let so many vampires hang around our homes without even a shred of garlic, a piece of silver, or the ever-handy UV light to vanquish them with?
Fear not my friends, for today is National Vampire Awareness Day, as deemed by big box store Best Buy. Wait, Best Buy??
That’s right, because we’re not talking about REAL vampires (geez you’re gullible), we’re talking about electronics that draw vampire load, or sometimes called phantom load.
And Best Buy wants you to know how to exorcise those phantoms and send the undead back to the ranks of the fully dead for good.
So which one of your beloved electronics and appliances are sucking the energy right out of your home?
The Sustainablog offers a great list of just a few of the many devices that do just that:
- programmable coffee maker
- microwave oven with a clock
- computers
- stereos
- televisions
- cell phone, mp3, or battery chargers
- electronic exercise equipment with a display
As they’ve already mentioned, that list could go on and on and on… just like the immortal vampires that will one day take over our planet.
Bloody Vampire Load Facts
Via BestBuy:
- The average American home has approximately 20 to 40 electronics plugged in that abuse vampire power.
- These appliances can cost you close to $1,000 in electricity per year at current rates.
- Roughly $4 billion annually across the United States is spent on electricity lost to “vampire power,” according to the International Energy Agency.
- The average microwave consumes more power when it is NOT in use.
Vampire Vanquishing Procedures
- Use a power strip so multiple devices can be switched off at the same time.
- Unplug your chargers from the wall when they are not in use.
- Look for the Star. Upgrade your electronics and appliances to ENERGY STAR qualified products, which draw less power than the average when in “off” mode.
One of the best defenses against vampire load, besides unplugging electronics, is a smart power strip.
The best power strip for my money is the Smart Strip. You can pick one up for around $30, and as you can see, that cost will quickly be replaced in savings.
Happy halloween and happy vampire hunting… just don’t slay me, I may be pub-crawling as one.
I think every little step toward living green is an awesome one… but eco-snobbery sucks! My goal is to help newbies learn the most important steps toward living green — individually and collectively. Personally, I strive to have as little impact as possible on Planet Earth while I'm here.
