Most people assume that once an appliance is switched off, it no longer consumes electricity. Unfortunately, that belief is quietly draining household budgets and creating hidden safety risks. Lurking in our homes are so-called “energy vampires”—devices that continue to draw power even when not in use.
Individually, a few watts may seem trivial. But when multiplied across dozens of devices in an average home, the costs add up to hundreds of dollars annually. Even more concerning, the wasted electricity increases greenhouse gas emissions and raises the risk of overheating and fire hazards.
The True Cost of Standby Power
According to energy experts, households lose between $100 and $200 every year to appliances left plugged in but idle. That equals more than 1,200 kilowatt-hours of wasted power—enough to keep a refrigerator running for nearly a year.
The impact isn’t just financial. All that wasted energy contributes hundreds of pounds of unnecessary carbon emissions, placing additional strain on the environment.
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