CHICAGO, Oct. 5 - They lurk in the dark in your kitchen, your living room and even your bedroom while you sleep. They look like little glowing red fangs, on televisions, game consoles and other household electronics and appliances. You may know them as standby lights, but ComEd wants you to be aware that these lights are pesky little energy stealers also known as power vampires.
Here's a scary thought: power vampires draw small amounts of electricity whether your electronic device is on or off. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average U.S. household spends $100 per year to power electronics and appliances while they are off or in standby mode.
"Many of the most common home electronics, such as computers and some kitchen appliances, are the biggest energy guzzlers," said Val Jensen, vice president, Marketing and Environmental Programs, ComEd. "These electronics waste energy when they are left plugged in and can add up to 10 percent to your monthly electric bill."
ComEd wants to ensure its customers are aware of power vampires and how they can slay them to better manage their energy usage and save money.
This fall, the utility will feature a series of advertisements warning customers of these power hungry creatures. In addition, from Oct. 15-31, ComEd customers can visit the Brookfield and Lincoln Park zoos to peek inside the company's "shadowboxes," which will reveal tips on how to banish these electric-sucking nightmares from their homes forever:
Use a power strip with an on/off switch to fully power down home electronics while in standby mode.
Use a power strip for multiple battery chargers so it can be easily switched off when not actively charging.
Unplug or switch off all nonessential devices when preparing to travel out of town.
Unplug your charger for your cordless phone, portable music play or other portable device after its recharged.
Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips and turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use (TVs and DVDs in standby mode still use several watts of power). However, while unplugging DVRs can save money, they will not be able to record programs while turned off and program scheduling may need to be reset when turned back on.
Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use. Alternatively, set to hibernation or sleep mode rather than using screen savers, which do not save as much energy.
Look for the ENERGY STAR® label on home appliances, electronics and other products. ENERGY STAR® products meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.
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