Save Electricity With Energy Efficient Appliances

If you want to save electricity, reduce energy costs, and become a more energy-efficient consumer, a good place to start is by unplugging "vampire" home appliances.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, 40 percent of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed when they are switched off, and most homes across the country have between 10 and 50 such devices. Also known as vampire electronics, they include everyday household appliances like microwaves, phone chargers, home computers and even washing machines.

Think about it: the average DVD player uses over 11 watts of electricity while it's in use, and about six watts when it's "turned off." Follow these simple expert tips to be more energy efficient and lower costs by starving those energy vampires:

• Turn computers and monitors completely off when finished. Even during sleep mode, these devices can rack up approximately $55 of wasted energy each year for the average household.
• Unplug power chargers for cell phones, portable mp3 players and other devices when not in use. A plugged-in charger will continue to use electricity even when its device is not attached.
• For additional energy efficiency, use electrical power strips to disconnect multiple devices at the same time and easily turn off hard-to-reach appliances. These will help save electricity in all home electronics that are plugged into them.

All of these tips are presented by Lutron, makers of the Maestro Occupancy Sensing Switch [1]. You'll never forget to turn lights off again when you choose Lutron [2].