As Halloween nears, beware of phantom energy. These “energy phantoms or vampires” are devices that are seemingly turned off but are still plugged in and drawing power. This can account for 5-10% of the average household’s energy usage and have a real impact on your wallet over time.
Think of coffee makers and toasters, glowing chargers, gaming consoles, cable boxes and printers that never really sleep. They thrive on standby power, a “ghostly” load that keeps lights and displays glowing long after you’ve walked away.
Florida Power & Light (FPL) is sharing tips to help customers bust energy phantoms and keep bills as low as possible all season long, including:
- Unplug When You’re Done: Disconnect items like air fryers, coffee makers, power adapters and chargers after using them.
- Switch Off Culprits: Plug entertainment centers into a power strip with an on/off switch, making it easy to switch so they are truly off.
- Look for ENERGY STAR Labels: Choose appliances with this certification, as they use less energy in standby mode than other products.
- Power Down Spooky Decor: Unplug or switch off the power strip for fog machines, strobe lights, inflatables and other outdoor Halloween decorations during the day.
- Recruit Your Ghostbusting Crew: Get the whole family involved in spotting “energy vampires” around the house to make a bigger impact.
- Play FPL’s House of Savings: Explore additional energy tips in the updated interactive experience, which is designed to make learning about energy-saving tips fun for all ages.
More Savings Tips: For more tips, programs, resources and rebates customers can go to FPL.com/WaystoSave, where they can access FPL’s free savings tools like the Energy Manager and House of Savings.