Is there a Vampire in your house?

Yes. There probably is - whether you know it or not.

And I'm not talking about the new Twilight movie. This vampire is the kind that sucks the money from your wallet through 'vampire power'. Vampire Power is the electricity that electronics and appliances use while they are switched off or in a standby mode. It is responsible for electric waste that figures in the billions annually in the U.S. Chances are your home has between 20 and 40 electronic devices plugged in that waste power to this hidden viper. To reduce the energy bloodletting, the the Department of Energy offers several suggestions:

• Use a power strip to easily switch off multiple items at the same time.
• Unplug all chargers from outlets when they are not in use (including phones, electric toothbrushes, laptops,...).
• Ensure your computer turns off in a timely manner (and not in hibernation or standby).
• Unplug the microwave - it may use more power when not actually on.
• Unplug TVs and DVD players when not in use. 40% of the cost to run these kinds of electronics is sucked out when they are turned off.

It's the green thing to do. And the average home wastes $1,000 a year to vampire power. Killing these predators in your house is a smart way to save money, save energy, reduce pollution and help save the planet. [where: 75230]