Did you know that appliances continue using up electricity even if you turn them off? In fact, they account for about 10% of your monthly consumption. Some people think it’s a myth but scientists at the Lawrence Berkley National Library beg to differ. According to their research, which dates back to 1996, plugged-in devices can use up to 20 watts of electricity per appliance. The Consumer Energy Center backs this data and states that the consumption of electricity increases by a few watts each hour.

This phenomenon is often known by a variety of names including; phantom load, idle current, standby power, vampire power, wall-wart and phantom energy.

Vampire load, as the name suggests, sucks extra energy from the national grid into your home. And to add insult to injury, this happens when you aren't using it or when you don’t even need it. Your appliances could be drawing power even after you switch them off. As long as they are plugged in, your electric bill is a t risk.

[caption id="attachment_27060" align="alignleft" width="315"] Vampire Load is active even after you turn off your appliances[/caption]

Some of the appliances that are responsible for this ghost-like consumption include mobile phones, digital cameras, power tools, DVD and Blue Ray players, computer monitors, TVs, toasters, fridges, hairdryers, radios, portable heaters and iron boxes.

According to Planet Green, an environmentally-friendly organisation, phantom power actually accounts for up to 10% of a person’s electric bill. Over a period of time, that margin can become quite significant. In fact, in 10 months, that number hits a hundred percent, adding up to one month’s consumption.

How do you stop this from happening?

Truth be told, controlling the flow of phantom electricity can save you a month’s worth of electric bills every year. So how do you stop something that you can’t even see? The first solution is simple. All you have to do is unplug every device that you aren't using.

It seems simple enough but for some people, it can be a hassle. Imagine having to fumble for plugs and sockets every time you switch off your TV. Computers pose even more of a threat because some models consume larger amounts of electricity. If you've been in a situation where the lights are dim then you know this to be true. Computers may not even shimmer during such fluctuations. And telling someone to wait for a device to shut down before unplugging it can seem like a troublesome request.

[caption id="attachment_27056" align="alignright" width="300"] Unplugging devices can save up to 10% of electricity consumption every month.[/caption]

In a word of cutting-edge technology and fast-paced digital responses, waiting for something to load is a punishment not many can endure. Think about all the videos you wanted to watch online. Imagine the way they would have to buffer before you could sit back and enjoy them.

The same frustration applies to dealing with phantom appliances. It’s like there’s a ghost in your machine and the only way to exorcise this demon is to pull the plug.

Sacrifices have to be made. If you want to save money then you will have to go through an inventory of appliances every single day. From toasters to electric and microwave ovens, all electric “vampire” devices must be accounted for.

One way to save time is through the use of a multi-socket extension cable or a single power strip. If many appliances are plugged in to one collective source, simply cutting power to that source will save a lot of time.

Another alternative is to buy appliances that are designed specifically to save energy. Such machines usually have an “energy star rating” that sets them apart from other devices. Some companies like Siemens have already started selling devices that stop consuming electricity the moment they are turned off. Even if they are plugged, these appliances are cut off from the phantom load. For those who already did their shopping years ago, this may seem a bit too extreme. Why would someone buy a whole new set when they already have one at home?

If you’re willing to save 120% of a month’s consumption every year, then the price is worth the struggle. You may be saving hundreds or thousands of shillings annually. If big companies and large organizations took this initiative they could actually be saving tens of thousands of shillings each year.