Environmental Challenge #3

Environmental Challenge of the Week #3
Eliminate "Phantom" Energy Drains in Your Home

"Phantom" energy drains come from "vampire" appliances. These appliances draw energy from the wall even when turned off or on standby. Most people aren't aware of the extra energy usage, but on average, phantom energy use accounts for 5% of household energy usage.

A lot of stereos will never turn off as long as they're plugged in. They will only go on standby. Appliances like these still draw power. Battery-powered device chargers also draw power when plugged in, even when the device is not being charged.

You can eliminate these energy drains by using power strips to completely cut off power when appliances/devices aren't in use. Also, remember to turn off your computer at night. If you're not using a Mac, it's likely that the daily reboot will help your computer run smoother.

Also, check out this product database, which lists the standby power usage of each product.
http://oahu.lbl.gov/cgi-bin/search_data.pl

References: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/03/is_phantom_ener.php