Have you ever been surprised by an unusually high energy bill and didn’t know why? The culprit might be obvious: appliances that continue to draw power even when they’re turned off. These appliances, also known as “ghost appliances,” continue to draw power in standby mode or when not actively being used, simply because they’re still plugged in.
This unnoticed energy consumption can account for up to 10% of your monthly bill. What’s worse: these energy wasters are probably already in your home.
Let’s take a look at the eight most common appliances that unknowingly increase your electricity costs. And how to stop them.
1. Televisions in standby mode
The small red light you see when your TV is “off” indicates it’s still using power. In fact, standby mode can account for up to 5% of your TV’s energy consumption.
What you can do:
Unplug your TV when not in use. Alternatively, plug it into a power strip with an on/off switch for easy operation.
2. Phone chargers remain connected
If you leave your phone’s charger plugged in, even if you’re not charging your phone, it will still use energy and cause the adapter to get warm .
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