Ghosts and zombies aren’t the only things that could be haunting your home this Halloween season. It turns out that energy vampires may be hiding in the shadows, silently draining your electricity, and adding sneaky costs to your electric bills. But fear not, for ComEd has come to the rescue with some electrifying advice that could not only save you money but help you take control of your energy use all year round.
Beware of Energy Vampires
What exactly are these energy vampires? Well, they’re not the fanged creatures you see in horror movies or read in books, but they’re just as scary.
Energy vampires are devices that continue to draw electricity, also known as standby energy, even when they’re turned off but still plugged in. Think of your cell phone charger, your computer, or that gaming console that’s always on standby mode. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, these lurking energy vampires can account for up to 10 percent of your home’s energy use. That’s enough to give anyone a fright!
Vampire Busters
Melissa Washington, ComEd’s chief customer officer and senior vice president of customer operations, has a message for you: “As Halloween approaches, it is time to stop electronics from haunting your electric bill, and ComEd is here to help you.” Melissa suggests a few simple tricks to help you slay these energy vampires:
Use a power strip with an on/off switch: This is like giving your electronics a bedtime. When you’re done using them, flip the switch and watch those energy vampires fade into the night.
Unplug chargers: Once your devices are fully charged, unplug those chargers from the wall socket. They’re not innocently resting; they’re still feeding on your power.
Before you leave: If you plan to be away for a while, make like a vampire hunter and unplug all non-essential devices.
Look for the ENERGY STAR® label: When shopping for new gadgets and appliances, keep an eye out for the ENERGY STAR® label. These certified products are vampire slayers of the tech world, designed to be energy efficient and eco-friendly.
ComEd isn’t just here for Halloween
ComEd is available year-round to help you save money and energy. Our award-winning Energy Efficiency Program, funded in compliance with state law, is one of the largest of its kind in the nation. It offers residents, businesses, and the public sector a multitude of ways to control energy costs and reduce environmental impact.
Here’s a real treat: since 2008, ComEd has saved customers more than $8 billion on their energy bills. Not only that, customers have helped save nearly 76 million megawatt-hours of electricity — enough to power over 8.6 million homes for a whole year.
If you’re ready to join the battle against energy vampires and make your home a more energy-efficient haven, ComEd offers free home energy assessments that dive deep into your home’s energy use to uncover hidden savings opportunities. Since 2014, more than 130,000 homeowners and renters across northern Illinois have saved a total of approximately $17.5 million, if not more, on their energy bills through these assessments — and that is not a trick.
For more information on how ComEd can help you save money and energy, visit ComEd.com/HomeSavings for residential customers or ComEd.com/BizSavings for business customers. This Halloween season, make like Van Helsing. Remove those energy vampires and take charge of your energy destiny.
Happy Haunting!
