Duke Energy helps customers take a bite out of ‘energy vampires’ with tips, new ‘Energy Slayer’ calculator

CHARLOTTE, NC – Energy vampires are lurking in millions of homes across the country, sucking energy and money from consumers.

They live in appliances – TVs, laptops, cellphones, chargers and even coffee makers – slowly draining electricity that can account for up to 20 percent of a customer’s electric bill.

These villains are also known as phantom or standby power, which consume electricity in electronic appliances while they are switched off or in standby mode.

According to Energy Star^®, the average U.S. household spends $100 a year to power devices while off or in standby mode. Standby power accounts for more than $10 billion in annual energy costs.

Garlic won’t work on these vultures, but there is relief.

Duke Energy is helping its customers save energy and money with a new ‘energy slayer calculator,’ a fun and easy-to-use tool that calculates usage costs for common energy vampires.

The calculator is available at www.duke-energy.com/energyvampire.

Here are additional tips that can help reduce energy costs:

• Turn off your lights at night to see where energy vampires lurk. Standby lights on electronics, such as TVs, cable boxes, DVRs and video game consoles are telling signs that power is slowly being drained even though the product isn’t in use.
• Unplug these energy-consuming vampires. It sounds too simple to be true, but unplugging devices when not in use saves money.
• Plug “wall warts” (the cord with the large square-shaped plugs) and “bricks” (power cords that have boxes in the middle of them) into power strips, and turn off the strip when not needed. Using “smart” power strips makes it even easier. These automatically cut off power when devices are not in use.
• Look for the Energy Star^® label when purchasing new appliances. They can use up to half as much energy as appliances that are not Energy Star^® rated.
• Avoid buying products that include “bells and whistles” that are not needed. Some of these extra features – like an upgraded refrigerator or device with features that will rarely be used – can waste energy.

October is also National Energy Awareness Month. Find energy efficiency tips and stats on @Dukeenergy andfacebook.com/dukeenergy.

Duke Energy also offers customers energy efficiency products and services to help save money. For more information visit duke-energy.com.

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 250 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at: www.duke-energy.com.