This article shows how much money you can save by unplugging electronics when they are not in use. Of course, you use less energy and therefore spend less money by switching your incandescent light bulbs to LEDs or compact fluorescent light bulbs and also by turning off the light when you aren’t in the room. These ways of saving energy are effective and pretty common knowledge for most people, whether or not people actually do it. However, this article shows the other side of electronics and how much “phantom power” is used when things are left plugged in. According to the article, phantom power is “the energy used by appliances and electronics when they are turned off but still plugged in to a power outlet.” Phantom power can end up using “10% of the household energy use.” For example, an old VCR that stays plugged in can end up costing around $13 per year. Now that may not seem like a lot of money, but think of all of the things you keep plugged in at home like a hair straightener, an iPhone charger, a computer charger, a refrigerator, a stove, a TV, and so on. Of course there are electronics that you shouldn’t unplug everyday like a refrigerator, but next time you are done charging your computer or phone, unplug your charger from the wall. It could save you more money than you think!

http://money.howstuffworks.com/personal-finance/budgeting/how-much-save-unplugging-appliances3.htm

Photo from:http://www.mycutegraphics.com/graphics/electricity/electrical-plug.html