“Off” doesn’t really mean “off” like it used to. Instead, “off” is now “stand-by” for a large number of electrical appliances. Stand-by power allows certain functions to remain active, such as internal timers. For this reason, you are paying money on each electric bill for energy you didn’t think you were using.
Which electrical devices are the biggest culprits? TVs, VCRs, DVD players, audio systems, computers, printers, microwaves, and a number of others. An average of 7% of a home’s electric usage is from electrical devices that are “off,” but still sucking up power. In some homes, however, this can be as much as 25% of the power usage.
How can you save energy and money? Unplug your electronic devices! You’ll save money and become more environmentally friendly. What’s better than that?? Simply unplug your TV and DVD/VCR when you’re not using them. Unplug that computer when it’s not in use (24/7 stand-by is a killer!), and don’t leave your cell phone plugged in and charging all night. It doesn’t take that long to charge, and it’s wasting loads of energy.
It only takes a moment to unplug/plug in an electrical device. This is a very simple task we can do for ourselves as well as the environment. Give it a try. If you keep track of your bills, you’ll notice a difference.
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