NOW more than ever, Americans are looking for ways to conserve energy and reduce household spending.
It should be no secret that some of our favorite household devices are secretly sucking energy, even when they’re not in use.
Known as vampire energy or phantom power, this sneaky culprit can account for up to 40% of your electricity bill.
The latest research estimates that 5 percent of electricity used in the United States is being used for stand-by power.
Although small, slight changes can often mean significant savings for your home.
The good news is that it’s surprisingly easy to combat this issue -here’s how.
UNPLUGGED
Many devices continue to drain power even when they’re turned off.
Things like phone chargers, TVs, and other electronics remain in standby mode, meaning electricity slowly simmers while waiting for their next use.
A small change, like unplugging these items when they’re not in operation, is a great way to stop unnecessary energy usage.
Similarly, appliances like coffee makers, microwaves, and even lamps with smart bulbs can quietly consume your electricity when not in use.
Experts claim it could even save you over $430 a year.
Line by line! Don’t pay extra…
Here’s what Joy Dumandan, Consumer Editor with The U.S. Sun has to say…
It pays to check your receipt and consumers should not hesitate to ask what various line items mean.
WinCo Foods is accused of using a hidden surcharge imposed on customers to pay for Portland, Oregon’s Clean Energy Surcharge.
The surcharge was passed on November 6, 2018 after Portland voters said “yes” to the ballot measure.
It imposes on “large retailers” a 1% surcharge on retail sales. The money is used for grants and projects to reduce carbon emissions and other green energy initiatives.
A large retailer is a business who reports a gross total income of $1 billion and a Portland gross income of $500,000 or more. The surcharge is for large retailers and not a sales tax for consumers.
The Clean Energy Surcharge took effect on January 1, 2019.
The U.S. Sun obtained court documents from the class action settlement with WinCo. The suit accuses the supermarket of “omitting the amount of the surcharge as itemized on its customer receipts in its advertised prices.”
The hidden fees are said to have taken place between June 1, 2019 and May 8, 2022.
Court documents state on May 8, 2022, WinCo stopped “collecting the surcharge at point-of-sale registers.”
Anyone who paid an extra charge on non-grocery items can file a claim, according to the settlement.
WinCo has not admitted to any wrongdoing.
By: Joy Dumandan
POWER STRIP SAVERS
If unplugging individual devices sounds like a hassle, power strips are your best friend.
Plug multiple devices into a single power strip, and with just one switch, you can cut power to all of them simultaneously.
Smart power strips go a step further by automatically cutting off power to devices when they’re in standby mode.
So if your TV is plugged into a smart power strip, the strip can detect when it’s off and stop feeding it electricity.
Perfect for those with home entertainment setups or office spaces.
Three devices that are notorious energy vampires:
- Modern TVs
- Gaming Consoles
- Computers and Laptops
