Research shows that we’re losing—and paying for—a lot of energy from sources that we may not even be aware of. Here are a few hidden energy hogs to look out for. Set-top boxes—that little black box that sit on top of the TV, connect us to the world of cable or satellite TV. Each box consumes a lot of electricity, even when it’s switched off. That’s because these boxes are designed for security and customer service, not for saving electricity. This can translate into 1.5% of hidden residential energy use. When you’re not using it, unplug it.
Turn off your home office equipment when you’re not using it, because a computer that runs 24 hours a day can use as much power as an energy-efficient refrigerator. If you have to leave the computer on, at least turn off the monitor, which uses over half of the system’s energy.
Cell phones, digital cameras, and many other consumer electronic devices use external power supplies to convert high-voltage alternating current (AC) into the low-voltage (DC) current that these devices need. On average, these power supplies are 65% less efficient than they need to be, and it has been estimated that they consume about 2% of all electricity used in North America. Fortunately, in 2005, Energy Star began labeling consumer electronics that have energy-efficient power supplies. So look for the Energy Star label the next time you shop.