Electronics

photo of a power bar

Did you know that you may be using power without even realizing it?

Phantom or standby power is electricity that is used by electronic devices like TVs, phones chargers, DVD players and small appliances with clocks or timers when you aren't using them.

You may only use a small amount of power for each device, but it adds up over time, especially if you use a lot of electronics in your home.

You can reduce the amount of phantom power you use by plugging your appliances and devices into a power bar that can be turned off at night, or by unplugging any unnecessary electronics when you're not using them.

If you want to know how much energy your appliances and electronics are using, you can borrow an energy meter from a public library or community college library in your area. With the energy meter, you can measure the amount of electricity used in most household appliances and devices to determine how much it costs you to run them.