Is Vampire Power Sucking Power From Your Home?

Determining how much energy your home may be wasting can be calculated in a few simple steps. Home devices and appliances typically list their standby power usage in watts per hour. But, on our electric bills you'll notice the cost is calculated in kilowatt (kWt) hours. A kilowatt is equal to 1,000 watts. Therefore, dividing the number of watts per hour by 1,000 will give you your kilowatt usage. Example: If a device uses 3 watts of electricity per hour in standby mode, take ( 3 ) and divide by 1,000 = .003 Kilowatt hour. Next, times that number by your area's kilowatts per hour rate. Let's use the national average of 1.7 cents per kilowatt hour as a baseline. .003 X .17 = .00051 Cents per hour. This amount translates to approximately $4.47 per year in standby mode. In and of itself, this cost may not seem like a big deal. But, most modern homes are loaded with between 20 - 40  devices or appliances that drain electricity when not in use. This wasted energy adds up to roughly 40% the amount of the electricity these devices consume. Vampire/standby power is estimated to account for anywhere from 5 - 25% of the average homes electric usage. This wasted power can result in hundreds of extra dollars a year on your energy bill. 

It's important to understand the cost of electricity varies drastically across the country. Nationwide, rates can run as high as 44.28 cents in Hawaii, or as low as 9.8 cents in Nebraska. To get a more accurate look at your actual cost, refer to your electric bill. Your kWt cost per hour should always appear on your most recent statement. Or, reference our state by state calculator shown below far a quick estimate.

Out of necessity, some devices and appliances need to run continually to operate efficiently. For example, a refrigerator or motion sensitive security camera must have round the clock energy access to perform properly. That said, many household devices see limited duty while continuing to drain power while not in use. We've identified some of the most common sources of vampire power loss. 

Be aware, many companies overrate their products' energy efficiency. Your actual numbers may not live up to those listed in the manufacturer's handbook. Accurate measurements require specific standards and methods. Much the same as a car's performance is measured in a wind tunnel. factories test energy usage in ideal conditions. Home devices might use more power depending on operational mode or settings. For this reason, independent companies and homeowners often record much higher standby energy usage than factory results. This can leave many consumers frustrated by higher than expected energy bills than expected.