Beware of energy vampires this Halloween

They are lurking around your house in unexpected places: the television, the computer, and the microwave. Many electronic devices that remain plugged in consume energy continuously, even when not in use. You can add cell phone chargers, printers, satellite receivers, and game consoles to the list. These energy vampires are draining power and costing you money.

Here at EnerStar, we want you to use less of what we sell. So here are a few money-saving tips to help put a stop to energy vampires in your home:

• Unplug all electronics that are not in use. Or plug electronics into a power strip and turn the power strip off when items are not in use.
• Avoid electronics with extra features that you do not need, as these might use more energy.
• Make sure to check the label of a product before purchasing. Most Energy Star (c) endorsed products draw smaller than average amounts of electricity when turned off.

Power down with a power strip

A power strip allows multiple electronic devices to be plugged in at once, enabling you to easily cut off power to all of them with the flip of a switch. Power strips are particularly useful in spaces where electronics are not used frequently, such as a spare room, or in areas with a high concentration of devices, like an office.

In contrast to standard power strips, smart strips provide energy efficiency for your home but stand out due to their additional features designed to conserve energy.

According to EnergyStar.gov, there are three main types of smart power strips:

• Timer-equipped power strips are controlled by programmable timers, so all electronics plugged into the strip can be shut off at a designated time.
• Occupancy sensing power strips detect active use of a device and shut down after a specific period of time if unused.
• Current sensing power strips have the ability to cut or add power to a device as it senses when a device is powered off or on.

For more information on energy efficiency, visit SafeElectricity.org.