Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is advising customers to be aware of so-called “energy vampires,” also known as phantom load or standby power, which can increase household energy use and costs. These terms refer to appliances and devices that continue to consume electricity even when they are in standby mode or turned off.
According to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), idle loads may make up as much as 10% of a typical household’s electric bill and contribute about 1% to global carbon emissions. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that always-on devices could cost an average household up to $100 per year, depending on usage patterns and location.
“Energy vampires feed on everyday habits, but eliminating them doesn’t require a big investment,” said David Poster, PG&E Director, Building Electrification and Efficiency. “Small shifts in how you manage your energy use can lower your monthly bills and support a more sustainable future.”
PG&E highlighted information from the Standby Power Project identifying common devices that consume significant amounts of standby power. LBNL research suggests that taking steps to reduce standby power use could lower related consumption by about 20%.
Customers are encouraged to create an Energy Efficiency DIY Toolkit by investing in efficient materials, which can result in savings of several hundred dollars each year.
PG&E offers programs like HomeIntel, which provides personalized coaching to help households identify sources of unnecessary power consumption. More strategies for saving energy during cooler months are available at pge.com.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company serves over sixteen million people across Northern and Central California. Additional information can be found at https://www.pge.com/ and through their news portal at https://www.pge.com/news.
The original press release can be accessed at https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dont-let-phantom-power-trick-you-into-higher-energy-use-this-season-302595575.html
