If you don't use the following appliances regularly, unplug them!
Angie's How To Identify Home Energy Hogs
Difficulty:
Time: 15 Minutes
You can save up to 10 percent on your energy bill by targeting your energy hogs and unplugging them when you aren't using them regularly! While refrigerators and air conditioners consume the most energy, there are many small appliances that consume large amounts of unnecessary energy, too. These 'vampire' products cannot be turned off without being unplugged, and draw power 24 hours a day.
1 Identify the vampire appliances in your house.
2 To make unplugging appliances easier, consider using a switchable power strip to easily unplug a cluster of cords all at once.
If there are energy hogs you aren't use regularly, plug them into the power strip and get in the habit of switching it off.
3 If you want to know what current energy hogs you're using...
...buy a low-cost wattmeter to measure the devices in your home.
4COMPUTERS
Whether you have a desktop or a laptop (or both), your computer is a Dracula-level energy vampire. By turning your computer off instead of letting it idle or sleep, you can reduce its energy usage by as much as 75 percent.
5TOASTER
Once your crispy toast is on your plate, there's no need to leave your toaster on. Unplug it until it's time for your next snack.
6CELL PHONES
Even when your phone is plugged-in and fully charged, it's sapping energy from your outlet. Make a point to unplug your cell phone once the battery is full. Same goes for the charger.
7DVR AND CABLE BOX
Even when your cable setup isn't recording and is turned off by remote control it uses a whopping 43.46 watts an hour. When you're going to sleep or leaving the house for a while, unplug your setup completely.
8COFFEE MACHINE
You may take your cup of java to go in the morning, but your coffee machine hangs out all day draining power. Unplug it once you have your brew, or go classy and switch to a French press!
