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Many of our modern devices need electricity, and many of us are content to leave them plugged in all day and all night.
But these appliances draw electricity even when they're not in use — so-called phantom power.
According to the Ontario utility Hydro One, the average Canadian home contains more than 20 devices that draw phantom or "standby" power, which can account for up to 10 per cent of home energy use.
Fixing the problem is as simple (or not) as unplugging every appliance you own when it's not in use, or deploying advanced power bars that can time-out or sense when devices are idle. (See the graphic above)
Wasted energy is wasted money and needless emissions. Can you pull the plug?
