Now more than ever, Americans are looking for ways to conserve energy and reduce household spending.
It shouldn't be a secret that some of our favorite home appliances are secretly sucking up energy, even when they're not in use.
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This comet is known as vampire energy or phantom energy, and it can account for up to 40% of your electricity bill.
The latest research indicates that 5 percent of the electricity used in the United States is used for backup power.
Although small changes are small, they often mean big savings for your home.
The good news is that it is very easy to combat this problem, and here's how.
connected
Many devices continue to consume power even when they are turned off.
Things like phone chargers, TVs, and other electronic devices remain in standby mode, meaning the electricity slowly boils away while waiting for its next use.
A simple change, such as unplugging these items when not in operation, is a great way to stop unnecessary energy use.
Likewise, appliances like coffee makers, microwaves, and even lamps with smart bulbs can quietly consume electricity when not in use.
Experts claim that it can save you more than $430 per year.
Line by line! Don't pay extra…
Here's what Joy Dumandin, consumer editor at The US Sun, has to say…
It's a good idea to check your receipt and consumers should not hesitate to ask what different items mean.
WinCo Foods has been accused of using hidden surcharges imposed on customers to pay clean energy surcharges in Portland, Oregon.
The surcharge was passed on November 6, 2018 after Portland voters said “yes” to the ballot measure.
It charges “large retailers” a 1% surcharge on retail sales. The money is used for grants and projects to reduce carbon emissions and other green energy initiatives.
A large retailer is a business with a combined revenue of $1 billion and a gross income in Portland of $500,000 or more. The surcharge is for large retailers and is not a sales tax for consumers.
The clean energy surcharge went into effect on January 1, 2019.
The US Sun obtained court documents from the class action settlement with WinCo. The lawsuit accuses the supermarket of “omitting the amount of the surcharge as detailed on its customers' receipts at the advertised prices.”
The hidden charges are said to have occurred between June 1, 2019 and May 8, 2022.
On May 8, 2022, WinCo stopped “collecting additional fees from point-of-sale registers,” court documents state.
Anyone who paid surcharges on non-grocery items can file a claim, according to the settlement.
WinCo has not admitted any wrongdoing.
By: Joy Dumandin
Energy sector savings
If unplugging individual devices seems difficult, power strips are your best friend.
Connect multiple devices to one power strip, and with just one switch, you can cut off power to all of them at once.
Smart power strips go even further by automatically cutting off power to devices when they are in standby mode.
So, if your TV is connected to a smart power strip, the strip can detect when it's turned off and stop supplying electricity to it.
Ideal for those with home entertainment devices or office space.
Three devices are notorious energy vampires:
- Modern televisions
- Gaming consoles
- Computers and laptops
