Wanted: Energy Vampire Exterminators

  • Published
  • By Robin Liggett
  • 354th Civil Engineering Squadron
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  There is no better time than the beginning of Energy Awareness Month to talk about vampires. We all have these "energy vampires" lurking throughout our homes and offices and there is never a bad time to pull the plug on these phantom culprits.

An energy vampire, or a phantom load, is the energy draw by appliances or accessories that continues even when turned off or disconnected. The following is a list of easy steps anyone can take at work and home to kill energy vampires once and for all:

· Use daylight instead of electric light when possible. When artificial lighting is necessary, opt for compact fluorescent light bulbs. CFLs use 75 percent less energy, emit 75 percent less heat, and last 10 times longer than incandescent light bulbs. Even with all that saved energy, they should still be turned off anytime the room will be unoccupied for more than a few minutes. Too forgetful? Consider installing motion sensors to automatically conserve energy.

· Unplug electric cell phone chargers, game stations, coffee makers, desktop printers, radios, etc when they are not in use. Rather than unplugging each individual cord, consider using a power strip for three items and turning everything off with just one switch.

· Only use appliances when there is full load and avoid using hot water unless necessary. Despite the quantity of dirty clothes, a clothes washer uses 32 gallons of water per use. Dishwashers will use 12 gallons of hot water no matter how many plates and bowls are loaded so fill it up. The 'heat dry' setting is a secret code for energy vampire, turn it off!

· Heating accounts for 30 percent of a home's winter energy bill. Keep the thermostat set to 68 degrees Fahrenheit when home and drop it down to a recommended 55 when not at home. Clean or new filters in the furnace/heat pump and ensuring floor and wall vents are not blocked will improve air flow efficiency. Avoid space heaters, which are a deceiving vampire. If a home or office is drafty, then seal air leaks, caulk windows, and secure weather strips on doors. Keep garage doors and exterior doors closed during winter months. Open curtains during winter days to allow the natural sunshine to warm a room and close curtains at night to keep in the heat.

· There's a common misconception about computers and power. Screen savers do not reduce energy consumption, but sleep mode is the more conservative choice. If you're going to be away from your computer for twenty minutes, you may manually turn off the monitor to save the screen and energy. You should power down computers anytime you are away from your desk for more than 2 hours. Check out all the energy efficient office equipment when looking at a future purchase. An energy star laptop uses 70 percent less electricity (be sure to activate the power management feature) than a heavyweight desktop PC.

· Modify the thermostat of your water heater to warm (120 degrees F) to save energy and avoid accidental scalding. The quantity of water counts, too. The average shower can consume 20 gallons of water. Installing a low flow showerhead will reduce water waste. Dripping water isn't just annoying, it can waste gallons of water in a very short period of time so repair leaky faucets immediately.

Leaner installations, cleaner sources, and smarter decisions will help everyone exterminate their energy vampires at work and home.