Trick or treat
Unplug energy vampires and save
Don’t fall for energy vampires and their tricks. These sneaky little monsters feed off your electronic devices and appliances, stealing energy even when they’re turned off or in standby mode. Follow these tips to beat energy vampires at their own game and treat yourself to lower bills.
Trick: Use power strips
Treat: Simply keeping electronics like game consoles in “standby mode” isn’t enough to stop energy vampires. Play it safe and add a power strip to these items. Power strips can cut the flow of electricity by switching it off. Walk through your home and check to see how many electronics and appliances are potential energy vampires. Then follow our tips and stop these monsters from haunting your bill.
Trick: Unplug electronics
Treat: Don’t let electronics drain your energy. Musicians, keep amps, laptops, and other items unplugged when you’re not using them and play acoustic when you can.
Trick: Upgrade appliances
Treat: Consider replacing your older appliances with more energy-efficient ones. Look for the ENERGY STAR® logo to help maximize savings and monitor your electric use on PEC’s SmartHub app.
Trick: Use timers
Treat: Install timers for some electronics. Timers are helpful for devices that only need to be used for a short time or at a specific time of day, like a coffee maker or robot vacuum. Getting rid of energy vampires can help you save as much as 10% on your monthly energy bill, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.