The Red, White, and Green

This video would probably be more apropos to post around Halloween than the middle of August, thanks to the Vincent Price–esque voice-over, but I thought it would be the perfect complement to my Eco Etiquette column this week, which touches on the growing problem of vampire power.

Vampire power (or standby power, as it’s also known) refers to the continuous draw of electricity by appliances that are plugged in, even when they’re not technically “on.” And it’s becoming a substantial source of energy consumption in the US (not to mention greenhouse gas emissions), thanks to the proliferation of electronic devices: It’s estimated that 10 percent of all electricity in this country is wasted on idling standby current, at a cost of nearly $10 billion a year.

What does that mean for you personally? Well, if you’re anything like the average tech-loving American, with an LCD TV, DVD player, DVR, laptop, PDA, iPod, etc., the standby power from those devices could easily be costing you up to $200 a year.

That’s completely wasted money, mind you, since that electricity serves no other purpose than to vanish into the ecosphere. You may as well go to the ATM, take out two Benjamins, and light them on fire.

Fortunately, the fix is a relatively easy one: Unplug appliances like your coffeemaker and toaster when not in use, and consider getting a smart power strip — like this one from iGo — for other devices that aren’t as easy to unplug, like your television and computer.

–Jennifer Grayson

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