How to save money on your electric bill....

The easiest way to way to save money on your electric bill is to unplug your electronic devices while they are not in use. Even though you are not using them, if they are still plugged in, they still pull a little bit of electric. That is what Best Buy is calling Vampire Electric.

Best Buy has declared October 30, 2008, National Vampire Awareness Day.




These unassuming predators have been feeding off valuable electricity from everyday appliances and electronics when they are in the off position or in standby mode.

Innocent looking prey include: plasma TVs, computers and game consoles, DVD/VCR players, DVRs, adapters for MP3 players, and cell phones, which can waste up to half the energy they consume.

A computer left on continuously can suck nearly as much power as an energy efficient refrigerator; anywhere from 70 – 250 watts, depending on the model and how it is used.A 500-watt, 65-inch LCD TV left on all the time would cost $484 in electricity per year and the generation of that electricity would produce 5,873 pounds of CO2 per year

THE SCARY FACTS:Roughly $4 billion annually across the United States is spent on electricity lost to “vampire power,” according to the International Energy Agency.40 percent of all electricity used to power electronics in the average American home, such as TVs, DVD players and computers, is consumed while these products are turned off, according to the Department of Energy. The average home wastes close to $1,000 in electricity costs per year at current rates (more in the future if energy costs continue to climb). Each watt of vampire power costs about one dollar per year - if you have 25 power vampires consuming an average of seven watts each, they will cost you $175 per year and emit about 900 kilograms of carbon dioxide.

The average microwave consumes more power when it is not in use.The average American home has approximately 20 to 40 electronics plugged in that abuse vampire power.The electricity vampires prey upon is significant and can cost up to 10 percent of an average household’s monthly electric bill.

FORGET THE GARLIC THIS HALLOWEEN – HERE’S HOW YOU CAN PROTECT YOURSELF:Use a power strip: Plug your chargers into a power strip and when you’re not using those chargers, turn the power strip off.

Get unplugged: All of your chargers (cell phone, MP3, laptop, and even electric toothbrushes) continue to draw electricity even when the device is not charging. When the device has been completely charged unplug the charger from the wall.

Turn your computer off: Completely shut down your computer and printer when not in use. If you are unable to do so, at least make sure the computer goes into a low-power sleep, standby or hibernate mode. And watch out for those screen savers; graphic intense screen savers can actually waste power.

Look for the Star: Upgrade electronics and appliances to Energy Star-rated models, which draw less power than the average when in “off” mode.

For more tips and advice on ridding vampires from your home, visit your local Best Buy store or check out http://www.vampireawarenessday.com/