Tech Tips: 'Vampire Energy' is wasting electricity and increasing your bill, here's how to protect yourself..

People often leave their phone charger plugged in after charging, or don't turn off appliances like TVs, microwaves, or washing machines after use. People often turn off lights when leaving the house or at night, thinking they won't be using any more electricity. However, this isn't true. When your electronic devices, such as your phone charger, TV, or gaming console, are left plugged in even when not in use, they continue to slowly draw power.

Phantom Energy Increases Power Consumption
According to research from the Columbia Climate School, this wasteful consumption can account for 5 to 10 percent of a household's total electricity consumption, depending on how old and how power-hungry your appliances are. Experts refer to this wastage of electricity as "phantom energy" or "vampire energy." This constant flow of electricity increases electricity demand, which not only puts a strain on your wallet but also negatively impacts the environment through increased coal consumption.

Smart Devices Consume More Power
Newer, internet-connected smart devices further exacerbate this wastage. For example, smart TVs or smart fans with features like "Smart Wake" can consume up to 40 watts of power even when turned off. This is about 40 times more than a typical TV. These devices continuously draw power even in standby mode, so they can instantly turn on with a remote or voice command. Additionally, devices like Wi-Fi and smart assistants are often on 24/7.

What to do to prevent this wastage?
The good news is that you can prevent this wastage and protect your devices by changing a few small habits:

Unplug the charger immediately: As soon as your phone's battery is full, unplug the charger immediately.

Unplug appliances: Appliances like microwaves, which continue to draw power just to keep the clock on, should be unplugged when not in use.

Turn off standby settings: Turn off additional settings (such as quick start, timers) on smart TVs and other devices that force them to draw power even in standby mode.

Use a power strip: Use a multi-plug power strip. When you go to sleep or leave the house, simply turn off the power to all appliances at once. Adopting these practices will reduce your electricity bill, extend the life of your appliances, and you'll also be making a significant contribution to environmental conservation.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Amar Ujala. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.