You know there will be trick-or-treaters dressed as vampires walking down your street on Halloween—but do you know about the “energy vampires” in your home? Energy vampires are appliances or electronics that still drain electricity while turned off or on standby mode. This wasted electricity is referred to as a “phantom load.” 

Devices that can be energy vampires include phone and laptop chargers, DVD players, video game consoles, computers, and devices that turn on instantly via remote control. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, energy vampires cost U.S. households $100 a year on average. 

Follow these four simple actions to slay these energy vampires and avoid wasting electricity: 

1. Activate the “sleep mode” on your computer. If you are planning to be away from your computer for a short amount of time, activate the sleep mode on your computer. This won’t save as much electricity as shutting off your computer, but it saves much more than a screensaver does. 
   
   
2. Buy electronics and appliances with the ENERGY STAR® label. Shopping for a new television or other electronic device soon? Look for the ENERGY STAR® label. ENERGY STAR® electronics and appliances use up to 50 percent less electricity than less-efficient models, while providing the same performance.
   
   
3. Unplug devices when you aren’t using them. Look for devices in your home that are plugged in even when they aren’t being used, such as video game consoles, and unplug them. Don’t forget to unplug chargers for devices once they are fully charged.
   
   
4. Use power strips. Plug electronics into a power strip, and shut off the power strip when you aren’t using the devices to ensure they aren’t draining energy. Even better, if you use a smart power strip, it will cut power to the devices automatically while they are in standby mode.

Visit your local electric company’s website and read EEI's "More Than 100 Ways to Improve Your Electric Bill" to find more tips on how to save electricity.