The Skinny>>

You’ll find them lurking in your bedroom, in the kitchen, even in your bathroom. Energy Suckers.

According to the Los Angeles Times, “about 15% of the average household’s electricity use is from electronic devices” (e.g. televisions, laptops and DVRs). What’s even worse, while you may think you have turned “off” an appliance, it’s often still sucking energy out of the wall socket; thus the term “Vampire Energy”. According to Real Simple about sixty to eighty percent of the electricity an appliance consumes occurs while it’s idle!  Most U.S. consumers are unaware of how much Vampire Energy they’re actually using, costing them an estimated $3 billion a year.

Work It >>

While stringing garlands of garlic around the room and arming yourself with a cross and holy water will not fend off these energy suckers, we have some tips to help cut costs and wasted energy across the board.

Unplug everything when it’s not in use – yes, even your computer, television, lamps, toaster, etc. Kill A Watt is a great tool to figure out which appliances are sucking up the most energy.

If unplugging everything seems like too arduous of a task, invest in a YDT recommended Smart Strip
. A smart strip, such as the Smart Strip Power Strip, is able to sense when an appliance’s energy usage dips below a certain amount and automatically shuts off power to that device.

Hang those skivvies out to dry. Whether you wash your clothing at a Laundromat or use the washer and dryer at home, take advantage of the upcoming warm weather and dry your clothing on a clothesline or drying rack.

Turn off all lights when you’re not in the room and replace all “regular” incandescent bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs). CFLs may cost a little more than your previous light bulbs, however they use about one quarter of the energy and can last up to 10 times as long!

Cut back on energy consumption altogether by opting for Energy Star-labeled appliances. Here we “decode” the Energy Star label and more.

Call up our friend, Green Irene, and “she” can recommend other ways to save energy, such as setting your water heater to a certain temperature, or even going so far as to beef up your home or business’s insulation.

Earn Your Stripes >>

Go Solar. Make sure as much of the power you use is generated from a renewable energy source.

Let YDT take you through the basics of Solar Economics and help determine if sun power is right for your particular business and/or residence.

If you can’t swing solar yet or live in an apartment, consider purchasing green power. Currently, coal is the dirtiest form of energy, and yet it is responsible for generating around 57 percent of the United States’ electricity. By investing in wind or solar, we keep the lights on and the world clean. Call your local utility to discuss alternative energy options in your area, or visit the U.S. Department of Energy’s Green Power Network.

to find out which organizations offer green power in your state.

Related Content >>

• Green Apartment Dwellers, Yes We Can!

• Choosing the Right Solar Installer

• Where to Land Your Green Dream Home in L.A.

• Umbra on Nuclear Energy Via Grist.org

• Green Tools any Technophile Could Love

• Lenmar PPUS20 PowerPort Solar Charger &Charging Cable/Device Tip Adapters

Image via:

Electricity Outlet (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kk/4649947/ ) by kk+’s http://www.flickr.com/photos/kk/

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