Energy Vampires: The True Cost of Phantom Energy on Your Wallet and the Environment

By Sammie Trvalik, Earth Forward Group

Published October 31, 2023

Each year in the United States, 44 million tons of CO2 are released into the atmosphere through electronic devices that aren’t being used or are turned off. This equates to approximately 50 large power plants worth of electricity and $19 million. When 68% of all energy produced in the U.S. is being wasted through the processes of production and distribution, these statistics are nothing to ignore. The average household can be expected to spend up to 20% of their monthly energy bill (around $265 annually) on phantom energy through “energy vampires”. This cumulative power could electrify over 11,000,000 homes annually in the U.S.

Energy vampires are the electronic devices that are powered all the time, even while they aren’t actively being used — this is also referred to as a home idle load. In an increasingly electrified world, many of our devices are left plugged in all the time. These products, especially smart devices, are constantly receiving information for internal clocks, bluetooth or wifi connectivity, software updates, temperature regulators, and more. Their screens may be inactive, but the device itself is constantly updating in the background.

At times, it becomes crucial for our devices to perform this function. We’ve all experienced the frustration of missing an alarm due to our phone or clock running out of battery. However, there are numerous instances where the act of powering your device down completely when it’s not in use can result in annual savings amounting to hundreds of dollars. Don’t let the vampires get you!

Common energy vampires include:

  • Televisions

  • Laptops, computers and computer displays

  • Radios or speakers

  • Printers

  • Game consoles

  • DVD players

  • Coffee makers

  • Microwaves

  • Cordless power tools

  • Mobile chargers

  • Hair dryers, curling irons, and electric shavers

“Saving Energy Through Advanced Power Strips” (NREL)

To avoid manually unplugging your devices, invest in advanced power strips (APS) designed to automatically power down your devices when they’re not in use, effectively conserving energy and reducing utility costs. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory published a helpful guide outlining options for APS’s by device and function.

Not sure where to start? Complete the Energy Vampire Calculator by Duke Energy to identify your hungriest vampires.

Sustainable LivingEFGEnergy Efficiency, Electricity, Tips