CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 10/12/10

Prevent vampires from wasting energy in your home

By Jackie Dallas

Just like a vampire can steal energy from an unsuspecting victim, an idle home appliance can bleed power from a home and unnecessarily add to its electric bill.

Did you unplug the coffeemaker before you left home this morning? If not, it is still pulling a small amount of electricity. This is called “phantom” or “vampire” energy. Most small appliances do not use a lot of electricity while still plugged in or in standby mode, but there use is being recorded. You will pay for those watts of electricity.

A phone charger, for example, plugged in with no cell phone attached uses phantom energy. Computers, printers, hard drives and monitors all still pull electricity while plugged in and not being used.

The best way to stop this phantom energy waste is to use a power strip or surge protector. By plugging electronics into these, you can turn off the power to the strip or protector and eliminate the flow of electricity.

To reduce the electricity used by a computer, turn it and its monitor off if you’re not going to use it for more than two hours. If you’re not going to use the monitor for more than 20 minutes, turn it off.

There is a surge of electricity when your computer is initially turned on, but overall it’s much less than the electricity used when the computer is in standby mode. Another misconception is that screen savers are energy savers. Many screen savers actually use more energy than if the computer was on without a screen saver in place.

To save energy, purchase Energy Star® computers and other appliances. These appliances and electronics carry the Energy Star logo.

As with all energy-saving tips, apply the ideas that make sense for your household. If you have to reprogram television or cable remotes every time you unplug the television, DVD player or cable box, this may result in too much time or too much of an inconvenience for you.

Working together, families can do simple things like turn off lights when they leave a room or unplug small appliances that are not being used. Replacing light bulbs with compact florescent bulbs can save energy, too. CFL bulbs cost a little more than traditional bulbs, but they last five to seven years.

For more energy-savings tips, contact your local University of Georgia Cooperative Extension office at 1-800-ASK-UGA1, or your local power provider.

Jackie Dallas is a a natural gas and electricity educator and Clarke County Extension Agent.

Authors:
Jackie Dallas
Experts/Sources:
Jackie Dallas
Electrical outlets feed power to appliances wether they are turned on or not. Most small appliances do not use a lot of electricity while still plugged in or in standby mode, but there use is being recorded. You will pay for those watts of electricity.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Download Image
Checking Yogurt Label CAES News
Impact of food nutrition labels on retail pricing and consumer purchasing 11/20/23 Emily Cabrera
Do Nutrition Facts labels provide a complete picture of what "healthy" really means? And does the way information is provided on food labels change consumers' perceptions and purchasing behavior? Chen Zhen, a University of Georgia professor in food choice, obesity and health was awarded $794,000 to lead a four-year international study to better understand how the use of supplementary nutrition information on packaged food labels have unintended consequences across the socioeconomic spectrum.
Some researchers estimate up to 70 percent of Americans die without a will, often creating complex legal issues for family members. CAES News
UGA Extension workshop offers free estate planning education 07/17/23 Cal Powell
Estate planning can be intimidating for some, and the statistics bear this out. Some researchers estimate up to 70% of Americans die without a will, often creating complex legal issues for family members. To address the issue, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension and Fort Valley State University Cooperative Extension agents are offering a free, virtual workshop on Aug. 1.
Fort Valley State FACS agents Brenda Maddox (left) and Keishon Thomas (right), a UGA Extension Family and Consumer Sciences agent in Bibb County, with a client at a workshop for the Georgia Farmers Initiative for Training and Sustainability (GA-FITS) program, which helps Georgians complete estate plans through estate planning education and technical assistance. CAES News
UGA, Fort Valley State Extension team up to provide free estate planning services 02/16/23 Cal Powell
While many people prefer to plan every detail of their lives, planning for death is not often high on the list. The statistics bear this out. According to the most recent data, the rate of Americans dying without a will, called intestacy, is between 40 to 70%, depending on factors such as race and income levels.
SiloSpringsRanch (1) CAES News
Producers grow business knowledge through UGA's Master Agri-manager Program 07/11/22 Jordan Powers
Since launching Silo Springs Ranch in 2020, Audrey Gravelle and her husband have jumped many hurdles associated with starting a farm. They’ve found a meat processor, formed a limited liability company and marketed the finished product — in this case, grass-fed and finished cattle that is processed locally and sold directly to customers in Georgia. Starting a farm or agribusiness is more complicated than often realized — and comes with plenty of risk.
UGA students talk with Georgia residents via a virtual connection in the Charles Schwab Financial Planning Center on campus. CAES News
UGA tax preparation program helps Georgians claim over $2 million in refunds 06/15/22 Cal Powell
University of Georgia students contributed to an estimated $4.4 million economic impact on the state from services provided through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program this year.
VITA2 copy 1536x1063 CAES News
5 reasons to file: Free tax assistance from UGA VITA program 03/08/22 Cal Powell
Filing taxes can be intimidating, but the University of Georgia can help. The UGA Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program has provided free tax preparation services to Athens and surrounding areas for over 15 years and recently added a virtual component that allows for statewide access for online tax filing.