With Halloween right around the corner, a hidden terror could already be creeping around your business. Unlike your typical ghouls or goblins, energy vampires never sleep, can lurk anywhere, and cause significant energy waste in your business.

Energy vampires are devices that continue to use energy and drain power while plugged in, even though they’re switched off.  Also known as standby power or phantom load, these voltage vampires suck the power from your business and leave you with a haunting electric bill.

 Here are a few ways you can rid your business of these unwelcome vampires, no garlic necessary. 

1. Unplug devices when not in use.

One of the easiest ways to hunt down energy vampires and lower your electric bill is to identify the power-draining culprits and unplug them when not in use. Over time, when multiple devices and appliances are left plugged in, your energy costs can start to really add up. Some estimates believe that leaving unused devices and appliances plugged in can make up about 10 percent on a monthly energy bill. 

2. Utilize power strips.

Remembering to unplug every charger and device at the end of the day can be tricky. Power strips are a great way to group and power multiple devices all at once while allowing you to control the energy supply with the flip of a switch. Power strips are inexpensive, easy to find, and come in various shapes and sizes to fit your business’s needs. You can even go a step further and use a smart power strip, which will automatically turn off idle electronics without any additional steps from you.

3. Put them to sleep.

Utilize the sleep mode setting on your computer or set other electronics into power-saving mode to minimize their electrical consumption when not in use. You can set up your device to automatically go into power-saving mode after a certain amount of inactivity. Make this a habit when leaving for a short period of time, such as over lunch, and make sure to shut down entirely at the end of the day.

4. Upgrade equipment that can still haunt you.

Even after ridding your business of the energy vampires, outdated electronics and equipment left behind can still haunt you. Upgrading to more energy-efficient alternatives that use less power and have a lower than average standby consumption rate can help reduce your electric bill. Through comprehensive energy-efficient measures, Lime Energy can help your business assess its current power usage and provide smart solutions to improve operations and lower energy costs.

While none of these strategies will banish your electric bill for good, together, these simple tips can help your business slay energy vampires and save money.