By Evelyn Long, editor-in-chief of Renovated
Few things are as spooky as energy vampires — the hidden energy zappers most people tend to overlook in their homes. Yet, these everyday items add up to expensive monthly energy bills. With electricity costs rising and more homeowners struggling to keep the lights on, saving money wherever possible makes all the difference.
How Energy Vampires Zap a Home’s Energy Use
Many devices draw power when plugged in, even in idle or shutdown mode. Likewise, older household equipment may not be built like today’s sustainable models with energy-efficient components, causing them to consume more power than necessary.
Electricity may also get wasted through inefficient heating and cooling, such as unnoticed heat loss or gain. This could be a direct result of everyday items overheating or inadequate insulation.
The cumulative energy consumption of all devices, appliances and lifestyle habits contributes to monthly utilities. Even small changes like installing smart technology, turning off devices, and replacing equipment for greater energy efficiency can lower costs and help homeowners reduce their environmental footprints.
The High Cost of Excess Energy Consumption
A LendingTree study found electricity statements increased by 2.6% from August 2023 to August 2024. As a result, 34.3% of people cut back or eliminated unnecessary expenses at least once throughout the year to afford their utilities. Another 23.4% couldn’t fully cover their energy bills within the same time frame.
The study also showed that Connecticut, Arizona, and Texas residents paid the highest monthly electricity bills in the United States. They ranged from $233.38 to $254.57, or 25.8% to 37.1% more than the national average.
The amount of power and money people can save by addressing excess electricity use at home varies. However, the U.S. Department of Energy says households could reduce their consumption by 5% to 10% — about $100 annually in utility costs.
The Most Commonly Overlooked Energy Vampires
Some energy vampires are more evident than others. These seven culprits could be driving up electricity costs in every household.
1. Older Appliances
State-of-the-art appliances are pricey, but so are older ones. Research shows aging technical components can increase electricity consumption by up to 36% over a refrigerator, freezer or combined refrigeration product’s 18-year life span.
Even if appliances are well-cared for and regularly maintained, older models lack the sustainable advancements to meet today’s equipment standards. For instance, newer models have improved insulation, more efficient motors and smart mechanisms.
2. Outdated HVAC
Outdated heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are highly inefficient and must operate harder to keep indoor temperatures comfortable. This is usually due to improper ductwork, incorrect equipment sizing, poor maintenance history and older parts, leading to greater fuel or electricity usage.
Not everyone has the budget to afford an entirely new HVAC system. However, they can still reduce some costs by ensuring their equipment is inspected and maintained regularly.
3. Standard Lighting
Who would have known a little light bulb could be such a nasty energy vampire? Yet, although incandescent bulbs are nowhere near as efficient as light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs, many households still use them. Energy Star-rated LEDs are a more sustainable alternative, using 90% less energy and lasting 15 times longer than conventional bulbs.
This new lighting technology is available everywhere and comes in different sizes, styles and colors, from a standard table lamp to holiday lights. LED lighting strips may be an option for under cabinetry or built-ins. They last about 25,000 to 50,000 hours, meaning they can operate for years without replacing.
4. Energy-Intensive Water Heaters
Water heaters are necessary for cooking, cleaning and bathing. However, the older a water heater is, the less energy-efficient it is. Outdated machines tend to lose heat more quickly due to inadequate insulation, making them work harder to maintain the correct temperature. Upgrading to a newer model ensures a properly functioning water heater that maintains a consistent hot water supply, lowers utility bills and minimizes residential carbon emissions.
5. Phantom Loads
Phantom loads refer to devices that still consume power when plugged in, even if they aren’t being used. These electronics often include laptops, tablets, printers, alarm clocks, video game consoles, coffee makers, smart home technologies and more.
It may seem impractical to unplug the average 20-40 electronic devices in a home when they’re inactive, but phantom loads could account for 20% of your energy bills. If people aren’t leaning into power strips for their devices, they’re missing an opportunity to eliminate power when it isn’t necessary.
To make life easier, some power strips have a control plug you can toggle to draw or cut the electricity off. These allow you to control electricity flow to multiple devices simultaneously without reaching under your desk or walking around and unplugging everything room by room.
6. Unconnected Chargers
A device doesn’t have to be plugged in for an unconnected charger to draw some power from the outlet. This wasted energy may seem insignificant but adds up when accounting for several cords. From phones to tablets and laptops, people have many devices they tend to power in different rooms.
Pulling chargers out of the outlet when they aren’t in use reduces energy consumption and monthly electricity costs. Like with phantom loads, you can keep chargers plugged into a smart power strip or one with toggles to avoid unplugging and plugging them back in.
7. Inefficient Windows
Just because windows aren’t plugged into an outlet doesn’t mean they aren’t the culprits of excess power consumption. Poor insulation, coatings, and framing could significantly contribute to heat loss and gain inside a house, causing HVAC systems to operate more than necessary.
Inefficient windows allow heat to escape during the winter, while cracks allow cool air to enter. In the summer, these windows might let cool air conditioning escape. A renter might pay $10 to $20 more on their monthly bill during the summer since they tend to run the air conditioner more frequently.
How to Avoid Unnecessary Energy Usage at Home
There are several ways to proactively beat energy vampires and save electricity and money at home. The most apparent ways come from lifestyle changes, such as habitually unplugging devices and chargers or utilizing innovative power strips.
Upgrading the thermostat to a programmable or smart model will also help increase efficiency. For example, an Energy Star thermostat saves about 8% on cooling and heating annually and learns setting preferences and household schedules. When smart thermostats, in particular, connect to a smartphone, geofencing capabilities allow the system to register when the occupant is on their way home, automatically adjusting the settings to their liking.
Investing in appliance replacements is another way to prevent power overuse. The top-rated efficient refrigerators, for example, use 9% less energy and can save homeowners approximately $160 over their 12-year life expectancy. Similar savings are achievable by replacing washer and dryer units, dishwashers, and ovens.
Investing in windows is equally a costly endeavor but demonstrates excellent long-term results in decreasing power usage. Low-emissivity or reflective windows can save an average of 12% on power costs, amounting to $100 to $600 annually. However, it ultimately depends on the local climate and how many windows are in a home.
Other suggestions for battling energy vampires and creating a more sustainable household include:
- Replacing all standard lightbulbs with LEDs.
- Creating a maintenance schedule for all appliances and equipment.
- Having the roof inspected annually to address missing shingles and air leaks effectively.
- Replacing old weatherstripping around windows and doors to prevent heat loss or gain.
- Properly insulating walls, floors, attics and basements with energy-rated insulation.
- Utilizing natural light instead of turning on room lights.
- Installing room darkeners and ultraviolet light-reducing shades to prevent heat gain.
- Only running dishwashers, washing machines and dryers with full loads.
- Lowering screen brightness on laptops, tablets and other devices to conserve energy.
Monitoring Energy Use at Home
Several tools and applications are available to track and manage residential energy consumption, providing valuable insights into where and how electricity is most used. For example, smart home energy monitors measure consumption in real time, while some apps allow users to track energy usage, set goals to reduce electricity use and apply suggestions to lower energy consumption. Several other smart technologies also come with built-in monitoring features, allowing people to manage power remotely with their phones.
Local utility companies may have an app for homeowners to track their power usage at home easily. These apps also provide alerts during high consumption periods and let individuals monitor their bills.
Anyone unsure of where to start might conduct a home energy audit. This could entail calling a professional to evaluate the home for energy vampires and suggest improvements. Likewise, homeowners can download auditing tools online and conduct their own assessments.
Saving Electricity One Energy Vampire at a Time
Minor changes to at-home energy use are all it takes to save money on utilities. For many, it’s simply a matter of unplugging devices whenever possible and making wise decisions when operating electronics. For others, purchasing new appliances that meet today’s standards could be a worthwhile investment.