Watch out for Vampire Appliances!

Watch out for vampire appliances that consume energy even when turned off!

A typical home may have 20 vampire appliances. These appliances consume electricity even when they’re turned off costing consumers more than one billion dollars a year.

Many appliances, if they have clocks or other programmable features, use energy continuously because they’re not really off, but in stand-by mode. An energy-thirsty appliance in stand-by can cost up to $14 per year, which adds up!

To reduce the appetite of vampire appliances in your home, look for appliances with the ENERGY STAR® label. Electronics and appliances that have these labels must use half the electricity of standard equipment. You can also control these energy-thirsty appliances by plugging them into fuse-protected power strips that can be turned off when not in use.

For more information on saving energy, which saves money and prevents air pollution, check out www.GetEnergySmart.org or call Elizabeth Higgins at Ulster Cornell Cooperative Extension 340-3990.