What Is Phantom Energy and How Do I Avoid It?

If you’re reading this post, you might be curious about the amount of energy that your appliances consume when they’re being used. Active power consumption, especially for heavier equipment, could really rack up a huge electricity bill. However, did you know that appliances actually consume energy even when they’re turned off or not in use?

This phenomenon is called “phantom energy.” Many types of home and office equipment draw power from electric outlets just by being plugged in. Experts estimate that phantom energy accounts for not lower than 15% of the total energy consumed by these appliances. For example, on an hourly basis, a treadmill uses 5.6 watts, an inkjet printer consumes 4.3 watts (the figure is higher for heavy-duty laser printers), and a desktop computer uses 2.4 watts. Even something as small as a phone charger can contribute to your home or office’s phantom energy use.

How do you minimize phantom energy? The only way to avoid this kind of waste is to unplug electronic devices whenever they’re not in use. This might seem like a no-brainer, especially for electronics that you use just once or twice a week. However, many people would rather keep them plugged in because they can’t be bothered to go under desks and behind shelves to find the plug.

One way around this is to use power strips installed in accessible locations, such as on the desk or attached to the wall. That way, you can unplug your electronics whenever they’re not in use, and turn off the power strip and all of the appliances plugged into it when you plan to be away for a longer period.

Being conscious of phantom power is one of the many steps that you could take to cut your energy costs. Start unplugging now and enjoy lower power bills starting next month!