Is Your Energy Bill Scary? Slaying Energy Vampires Can Save Americans Millions

(Washington, D.C.) This Halloween, watch out for lurking energy vampires. These are the electronics and adapters that consume electricity when they are not being used. Power adapters and phone chargers are easy vampires to spot, and also easy to slay. Every energy vampire you vanquish saves you money, helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and helps in the fight against climate change.

“EPA encourages everyone to look for vampires in their home and get rid of this energy waste,” said Brian McLean, director of EPA’s Office of Atmospheric Protection. “Using less energy means less greenhouse gas emissions.”

The average U.S. household spends $100 per year to power devices while they are off (or in standby mode). On a national basis, this standby power accounts for more than 100 billion kilowatt hours of annual U.S. electricity consumption and more than $10 billion in annual energy costs.

These simple steps can protect our homes and offices from energy vampires:

* Unplugging power adapters or battery chargers when equipment is fully charged or disconnected from the charger.
* Using a power strip that can be switched off when electronics and appliances are not in use.
* Looking for the Energy Star label when purchasing products.


Slay Energy Vampires: http://www.energystar.gov

Public Service Announcements about Energy Vampires (in English and Spanish): http://www.epa.gov/multimedia/playercontents/audio/vampires/index.html

Energy Star was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the Energy Star label can be found on more than 50 different kinds of products as well as buildings and new homes. Products that have earned the Energy Star prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the government. In 2007 alone, Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved $16 billion on their energy bills while reducing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 27 million vehicles.