Phantom Load Calculator
Phantom Revealed
Did you know you may have phantoms in your home? Not the ghosts you see in movies and during Halloween, but energy phantoms – invisible energy users. A phantom load is any device that consumes electricity when turned off but still plugged into an outlet. These electronic devices provide the modern-day conveniences we rely on, but they also waste energy and cost money. The U.S. Department of Energy says on average, 75 percent of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off.
Finding The Phantoms
Finding the phantoms To find the phantoms lurking in your home, take a closer look at your appliances. Phantom loads can be found in almost every room of a home, though a common spot is the entertainment center. When the television is turned off, it isn’t really off. It’s sitting there, waiting for someone to press the on button of the remote, and waiting uses energy. TVs also use energy to remember channel line-ups, language preferences and the time. DVD players, DVRs, video game consoles, cable or satellite boxes and stereos also use energy when turned off.
Home office equipment such as desktop computers, monitors, printers and anything with a digital display such as microwaves and coffee machines are also working against your electric bill. And many of those chargers around the house that keep cell phones, power tools and MP3 players at the ready constantly draw power when plugged in.