Electrical devices that suck your blood

You will agree that these are the most inappropriate times to not pay attention to how we use electricity in our homes. It's time to learn that there are some (many) devices which, without your knowledge, charge you 20% of your monthly bill. It is no coincidence that they are called vampire devices.

WHAT ARE VAMPIRE DEVICES AND WHAT ARE THEY?

The basic principle is that any cable connected to a power outlet draws power, regardless of whether you are using the device it is connected to or not.

As you enjoy all the smart devices and technological goodies that allow you to do everything from home, be aware that all the devices that provide us with this luxury have energy ‘leaks’. Our biggest enemy is ‘standby mode’.

The vampire devices“ Well, at the end of the day (literally and figuratively, since the damage is done while you sleep—at night), they suck your blood. These are the ones that consume energy even when they are turned off but remain in standby mode. As long as they are plugged in, they ‘absorb’ energy. Not as much as when you use them (although some ‘burn’ the same amount), but there is a cost that ‘adds up’. Let's see how much it can be.

According to the US Department of Energy, ‘vampire’ devices account for 10% of the energy used by each household. The total cost is €17.9 billion per year (from €155 to €414 per household).

This country consumes 26% of global energy. According to the University of California, Berkeley, 5% is ‘vampire’ energy.

It ranges from 200 to 400 terawatt hours, which is roughly the amount consumed by the whole of Italy in a year.

Let's look at it a little more simply.

• An old TV in standby mode costs an additional €15 per year. That's €10 more than a modern LED TV.
• A game console costs €14.43 on average and a computer €13.30.

If the difference seems insignificant to you, consider how many devices are energy-intensive and calculate the total.

Since this is not easy to do in Greece, let's see what has been found in places where such information can be provided.

The British (British Gas, to be precise) have calculated that vampire devices cost €174.30 per year in every home. That is “two monthly bills.”.

Households in Great Britain spend €3.75 billion annually on vampire devices. This figure will increase further following the 54% increase in the maximum energy price cap, which will rise to €2,337 per year.

The relevant authorities warned that there may be another increase ’and bills may reach €3,557 in winter.“ They added that ”vampire‘ devices can save 23% of electricity (a total of €2.61 billion).

Which devices are the biggest vampires?

In short, it is

1. game consoles
2. televisions and
3. computer screens

In other words, it is

• computers and everything related to them (modems, routers, speakers, etc.)
• laptops, tablets, and cell phones when they are charging but not turned on or are fully charged
• printers, fax machines
• white goods (washing machines, dryers, etc.)
• kitchen appliances (coffee maker, toaster, etc.)
• surround sound systems
• stoves, heaters, electric radiators, air conditioners, etc.
• digital television converters
• digital alarm clocks (and any other device that has a standby light or clock)
• satellite TV boxes
• household appliances with a clock (microwave oven, etc.)
• Instant-on LED, LCD, and rear-projection televisions. The rule of thumb is that the larger your television screen, the more energy it consumes. In addition, when you leave it in standby mode, it needs power for the background and connection to the remote control - ensuring that it will be ready when you need it.

To help you recognize the most ‘dangerous’ vampires more easily, I should mention that anything with an external power supply (yes, even electric toothbrushes should not be left plugged in forever), a remote control, a continuous display, and charges batteries, it sucks up energy—and your blood.

HOW CAN YOU STOP THE ‘BLEEDING’?’

It is useful

1. Do not leave mobile phone chargers (or other devices) plugged in when you are not using them, especially when you go to bed. The same applies to all other electronic devices.
2. Turn off the lights when you leave a room and, of course, choose energy-efficient light bulbs.
3. Install power strips with a switch that turns off all devices (televisions, cable/satellite boxes, and DVD players) or electronic devices (all computer equipment) connected to them. It is prohibited to connect a power strip to another power strip.
4. Turn off routers, printers, and any other peripheral computer equipment when you are not using it. Pausing is also not our friend.
5. Make the most of your appliances—for example, don't run an empty washing machine.
6. Choose products with better energy efficiency when replacing something that has broken down (they also have lower consumption rates when in standby mode).

If we do all this, we will save not only our pockets but also, to some extent, the environment.