Appliances and "Phantom Energy" Use

"Instant on" plug-in electronic devices use small amounts of electricity when shut off at the on/off switch. Chargers for cell phones, digital cameras, power tools and other electronics draw energy when they're not in use. Appliances like televisions, computer monitors, and DVD players can also draw power whenever they're plugged into an outlet.

All together, "phantom energy" use can account for as much as 5 percent of a home's electricity use.

The best way to eliminate "phantom" electric consumption is to unplug the device from the wall receptacle or plugging multiple electronic devices - such as a TV, DVD player, and DVR, or a computer, monitor, and printer - into the same power strip and then turning off the power strip when not in use.