Deemed “energy vampires,” digital displays and standby lights on appliances and electronic devices can drain owners through higher bills.

“The energy that these vampires consume can add up on an electric bill,” said Lisa Lemons, spokeswoman for Denton Municipal Electric.

Even when they are fully charged, rechargeable battery-powered devices, such as cordless phones, cellphones, digital cameras, music players and power tools, use energy when they are plugged into outlets.

When a charger is plugged in but not connected to a device, it still uses electricity. “Basically, it [the charger] is producing electricity in case a device is plugged in,” said Lemons.

The energy expended while an appliance is plugged in but not in use is difficult to estimate and depends on the appliance, how much wattage it is pulling and the actual functions it performs while on standby, Lemons said.

Televisions, computer monitors and other electronics with standby capability burn energy while on standby. Electronics with digital clock displays, including microwaves, DVD players and coffee makers, use energy while on, regardless of whether or not they are in use.

To cut costs and reduce energy use, Lemons recommends unplugging devices while they are not in use or plugging devices into a power strip that can be switched on and off. 

“As the cost of energy goes up, customers want to know which appliances use the most energy,” Lemons said. “They also want to know how they can identify these culprits.”

HILARY RASCH can be reached at 940-566-6912. Her e-mail address is hrasch@dentonrc.com.