The lights can be out and the house can be quiet, yet electricity can still flow through plugs connected to devices. Associated Press reported that this “phantom energy,” also known as “vampire energy,” comes from leaving electronics plugged in when they are not in use, such as phone chargers, TVs, and gaming consoles. AP said that the wasted power can raise household bills and increase electricity demand from sources that release planet-warming emissions.
The amount households experience can vary by the equipment and how it has evolved. AP cited Alexis Abramson, dean of the Columbia Climate School, saying phantom energy depends on “what kind of systems you have and how much they’ve improved over time,” and reported that the drain accounts for about 5% to 10% of home energy use depending on factors including equipment age.
AP also described a prominent example: smart TVs. Matt Malinowski, director of the buildings program at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, said televisions connected to the internet and equipped with smart wake features can consume up to 40 watts of energy during the hours the TV would normally be off, which AP said is nearly 40 times as much as a regular TV. “The good news is there have been new, renewed efforts to tackle this,” Malinowski said, adding that advocates and manufacturers have worked on a voluntary agreement aimed at reducing how much energy smart televisions use in standby mode.
Aidan Charron, associate director of Global Earth Day, said the environmental impact matters beyond the individual utility bill. AP reported that Charron said while phantom energy may seem small for one household, the environmental toll is significant when multiplied across the country, and he urged people to unplug what they are not using. “Just take a little step of unplugging the things that you’re not using,” Charron said. “It will save you money and it’ll save emissions in the long run.”
AP outlined practical steps households can take. It said some of the main culprits are appliances that stay plugged in and remain connected to power, particularly devices that include clocks. Malinowski asked a question that AP framed around the choice to keep such features running, saying, “Do you really need your microwave to tell you the time, or can you unplug your microwave when you’re not using it?” AP reported that it recommends starting with small actions, such as unplugging phone chargers once batteries are fully charged, and then moving to unplugging other items like unused lamps.
For people who find unplugging cumbersome, AP said households can also manage settings. It reported that smart TVs often have optional features that can be disabled so the television is not “listening” for signals from other devices while in standby mode. Malinowski said, “If you’re not using it, then you’re getting no benefit, yet you’re paying the price and increased the energy use,” according to AP.
The story also focused on how individual behavior can influence community norms. AP said Jonathan Gilligan, a professor of earth and environmental science at Vanderbilt University, estimated that actions taken by individuals to reduce household emissions could contribute to reducing U.S. emissions by about 20% per year, which AP said equals about 450 tons (408 metric tons) of carbon dioxide. AP reported that Gilligan said choices add up partly because of how much the U.S. population contributes to direct greenhouse gas emissions.
Gilligan also suggested that people’s decisions can be shaped by what they see others doing. AP reported that Gilligan said the “question becomes, what can we do to try to address this?” and then added that “Phantom power is one part of this.” He also said people do not want to feel irresponsible and that when people see others taking actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, they want to do that too, adding that “this is a place where psychologists find that this effect is real.”