When you turn off your devices, many still draw electricity—a phenomenon called “vampire power” or standby power. These invisible energy drains come from items like TVs on standby, phone chargers left plugged in, and coffee makers with glowing clocks. While each device uses only a little, together they can add up to 5–10% of your annual electricity bill, costing you $100 to $200 a year.

Why does this happen? Modern electronics stay partially “awake” for convenience—instant-on features, clocks, or background updates require constant power. Common culprits include gaming consoles, cable boxes, laptops chargers, and sound systems, which silently consume energy even when not in use.

Unplugging everything isn’t practical, though. Essential devices like refrigerators, medical equipment, routers, and security systems need to stay on. Instead, using smart power strips can help by cutting power to secondary devices when the main one is off. Simple habits like unplugging chargers and turning off power strips at night reduce waste too.

Vampire power quietly wastes money and energy, but small changes can make a difference. Being mindful of these hidden drains not only saves you cash but also helps reduce unnecessary energy consumption on a larger scale. So next time you see a glowing standby light, remember—it’s quietly costing you.