Are you often finding yourself surprised at your electricity bill despite making conscious efforts to be power-saving? You could be suffering from a vampire infestation. There aren't the blood-sucking, big fangs, black cape Transylvanian type. These are the energy-draining appliances that suck your energy even when turned off, and they could be costing you thousands on your electricity bill.
We've compiled a list of common household devices that are the most dangerous energy vampires and provide solutions that you can easily implement to avoid these extra costs.
Chargers
Yep, any electronic device that also includes a charger is a massive culprit for energy draining. Phones, laptops, speakers, vacuum cleaners, if you can charge it you can count the dollars of electricity it's using by just having their charges always plugged in. A tip we recommend is utilising a power strip adapter and turning it off at the wall when the chargers aren't in use. You can also invest in a smart adapter that will automatically turn the power off if it recognises the devices aren't in use.
Televisions
Having your TV constantly plugged in and on standby is another deadly offender. While we can appreciate the annoyance felt when you finally get comfy on the couch only to go to turn the tv on and find it's been turned off at the wall, implementing the daily practice of turning it on and off manually could be the difference between getting a takeaway dinner on Friday night or having to resort to 2-minute noodles. A power strip near your TV outlet will also be useful for any gaming consoles or DVD players you have in use, as these are also energy vampire devices.
Kitchen Appliances
Energy-draining tendencies of kitchen appliances are a bit easier to combat. Things like the kettle, toaster, microwave and coffee maker (if it has a LED clock function) are all relatively easy to plug and unplug in the kitchen as they don't require constant use. Try getting into the habit of unplugging these before you head to work for the day. Appliances like fridges are obviously always on, but you can try and make your next upgrade one that is more energy-efficient to limit the power it uses.
Washing Machine & Dryer
Because these aren't always in action, having them unplugged from the wall is going to be an easy thing to implement. Whilst they don't have the highest usage costs when idle, they can add up and contribute significantly to your electricity bill.
For any assistance with your business and domestic electrical needs in South East Queensland, get in touch with the Ehlerth Electrical team on 1800 940 413 or make an enquiry here: https://bit.ly/3inSG0S
