Saving Energy at Home
Leaving a light on or not fixing a tiny leak in your faucet wastes more energy than you might think
Home energy usage adds up quickly, as we power our televisions and computers, take showers and run our dishwashers and washing machines every day. One of the worst energy-wasters is “vampire” electronics—appliances and gadgets that waste energy even when they’re not being actively used. For example, your microwave uses power even when you’re not cooking food—it’s keeping the digital clock running. And even when your computer is “asleep,” it’s still using energy! In fact, scientists at the US Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory say standby power accounts for 5-10% of household electricity consumption.
You can combat the issue of wasted standby power by unplugging appliances when they’re not in use or replacing your energy offenders with more efficient models. Check out the Federal Energy Management