Even after they are turned off, several electronics and appliances continue to use electricity. Any appliance or equipment that uses electricity even while it is off is considered a phantom load. For certain appliances, these phantom loads, also known as vampire loads, may be minor, but over the course of a month or year, they can pile up.

Additionally, any electronic device that is switched to "stand-by mode" rather than being entirely turned off will still draw power from the grid even when not in use. These could consist of TVs, cable systems, printers, or computer monitors.

Standby power is the amount of electricity used by devices when they are turned off or in standby mode. Even though it could go unnoticed, standby power is a significant problem. It could cost the typical U.S. household up to $100 per year and accounts for 5 to 10 percent of residential energy use.

Reducing Phantom Loads in your Home

1. Chargers and other devices that consume energy even while not in use should be unplugged.
2. Take into consideration unplugging your microwave until you need it. Your life will have one less clock, but that might be refreshing.
3. Connect a power strip to every component of your PC. When you're through using your computer, flip the strip off. Put your TV and other home entertainment systems through the same procedure.
4. When not in use, set your computer to enter sleep mode.
5. Invest in Smart Strip power strips, which will shut off power to any unused electronic devices