Study: Americans waste energy on devices not in use
STANTON, Calif. (KABC) -- According to a new study, you could be spending hundreds of dollars per year on energy bills for devices you're not using.
The study, released Thursday by the Natural Resources Defense Council, found that an American household spends an average of $165 per year on vampire energy drain, or wasted electricity by devices that are not in active use. In some cases, that figure is hundreds of dollars higher.
On average, inactive devices account for more than 20 percent of home electricity consumption in California, the study found. Researchers were surprised to find the traditional large electricity users such as heating, cooling, lighting and refrigeration only accounted for 15 percent of energy consumption.
10 common "always-on" devices and their added costs:
- Water re-circulation pump - $93 per year
- Desktop computer - $49 per year
- Television - $38 per year
- Cable set-top box - $30 per year
- Audio receiver/stereo - $22 per year
- Printer - $11 per year
- Furnace - $8 per year
- Coffee maker - $6 per year
- Dryer - $4 per year
- Traditional GFCI outlet - $1 per year
According to the study, approximately $19 billion worth of electricity is consumed by household appliances, electronics and devices that aren't in use. Experts say that amount of electricity is equal to the annual output of 50 large power plants.
Experts say you can make simple changes to your home that will minimize the amount of money you spend on vampire energy:
- Unplug devices you're not using regularly
- Turn off lights and switch to LED light bulbs
- Utilize power-saving smart strip surge protectors that can be set to turn off at a specific time
- Install kilowatt meters, which can show you how much vampire energy is costing you
Experts recommend noting what devices you own and which ones are plugged in because they can add up quickly.
