Many devices in our homes use energy even when they are turned off. We call these devices energy vampires. They use only a small amount of energy when they’re off—but if you add up all the lost energy—it’s about 10% of a household’s energy use. To eliminate this energy loss, unplug devices when they are not in use. If you have a lot of devices in the same area, plug them into a power strip and then turn the power strip off.

Today’s households rely on many different appliances and devices for daily activities such as cooking, cleaning, and entertainment. To conserve energy, choose devices that use the least amount of operating power and standby power. To easily find energy efficient appliances, look for the energy star label. Devices with this label meet strict energy guidelines set the government.