Although the concept has begun permeating mainstream culture, there are still millions of Americans that are unaware of the cost of leaving consumer electronics plugged in when not in use. This invisible drain on your power bill is referred to by experts as ‘Vampire Power’, because the devices consume energy and drain your wallet under the cover of being ‘off’ at night.
Which consumer appliances use power when they’re off? Nearly all of them, everything from your personal computer, modem, speaker system, and phone charger to your TV, Blu Ray player, VCR, and cable box. The most discouraging thing is, you have no way to know which appliances and electronics are still using power when they are on without buying a special 3rd party device to tally the waste.