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San Diego Electrician – Surprising Home Energy Drains

Believe it or not, the appliances and other electronic devices in your home use electricity even when they are powered off. This type of energy usage is called standby power, which allows your devices to perform functions while they are turned “off” and to decrease the time that it takes to turn them back on. Although this can sometimes be convenient, depending on the device, it can accumulate into a significant amount of electricity over the course of a month. One of the most common ways to reduce the cost of standby power is to either unplug, or completely shut off the power to the device with a power strip. Whether you unplug to turn the power off, or just flip the switch, it is important to know which devices are drawing the most power.

The following devices are some common draws of standby power:

Home Entertainment Systems                      

Your entertainment center is one of the biggest users of standby power. It is also one of the easiest to remedy. Because you have so many items that are plugged in at your entertainment center, making a small change here can be one of the most effective ways to reduce the amount of standby energy that is used in your home. Try hooking everything into a power strip. This includes your cable box, DVR, television, blu-ray player, DVD player and any gaming systems. As you can see, the number of devices adds up quickly.

Computers

Computers, including laptop computers, are another big user of standby power. Like your entertainment center, this is another area that will typically utilize a variety of devices, all of which use standby power. When not in use, unplug printers, computers and other devices that you may have plugged into your computer.

By keeping an eye on your standby power usage, you can put a significant dent into your monthly energy bills. For more information, or help in reducing your usage, call Green Electric Solutions, your electrician in San Diego. You can also read more at electrical-pros.com.

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