The month of October is synonymous with Halloween and all things spooky. What you may not know is that since 2012, it has also been associated with energy efficiency!
October is “Energy Action Month”, a yearly reminder of the importance of energy, environmental well-being, and sustainability throughout the country. The idea is that as a collective, we become aware of our energy and water usage so that we can all work together to take conservation and efficiency actions.
One of the best ways to do that is by signing up for an energy assessment and becoming energy efficient. (And if you have a business or commercial facility in New Jersey, we can help.)
In the full spirit of October though, we thought we would talk about energy vampires.
When people in the energy efficiency industry talk about energy vampires, they’re not talking about undead creatures like Colin Robinson from FX’s What We Do in the Shadows. They’re talking about electronics that use electricity even when they are turned off.
Things that are plugged into your outlets and idly drain your energy usage (and your wallet) in the background.
For this year’s Energy Action Month, learn to “slay” the energy vampires around your office or home with these quick steps.
Step 1: Search
Identify your energy vampires. Knowing is half the battle! Common energy-draining culprits include:
- Anything that charges a battery (like cell phone chargers, laptop chargers)
- Devices with a continuous digital clock
- Desktop computers and related equipment (i.e. Modems and routers)
- Larger office equipment like printers/copiers, shredders, and fax machines
- Non-essential break room items (microwaves, coffee makers, TVs)
Step two: Destroy
Just kidding. Don’t destroy your office equipment! Rather, destroy bad “energy draining” habits.
- Unplug non-essential office equipment at the end of the day (or even when they’re not in use). It’s not enough to just “turn off” your laptop or computer – they still use energy while plugged into the outlet! Unplugging is the way to go.
- Invest in power strips that allow you to turn off any electronics plugged into them, or better yet – a Wi-Fi-enabled smart power strip or plug-in! That way if you forgot to “unplug” before leaving the office, you have the option of doing so at home.
Now you’re on the way to becoming the office’s energy vampire slayer and Energy Action Month hero!
