If you are new to Southern California, or California in general, you’ll quickly discover that we have some of the highest energy costs in the nation. In fact, California ranks number 6 out of the 10 states with the highest electricity prices. So what are some simple solutions to help save an extra buck when it comes to your electric bill? Well, the answer is as easy as pulling the plug.
It’s estimated that households have nearly 40 appliances that are constantly using power that contributes to 10% of household energy use, which can add up to about $100 a year. Gadgets that are always plugged in are constantly adding to your electric bill even if they are turned off. It’s call phantom power use. Even though your device is off, they are still sucking power.
So do yourself a favor and unplug those devices you aren’t using all the time. Here’s a short list of what appliances you definitely should unplug, and those you can afford to leave plugged in.
Electronics devices
Unplug! 
1. Chargers
From our cell phones and laptops, to electric toothbrushes and more, any chargers that aren’t currently charging your devices are adding to your electric bill. So once your device is 100% charged, unplug your charger from the wall and start saving!
2. Small Kitchen Appliances
Obviously there are some kitchen appliances that would be unwise to unplug like your refrigerator or dishwasher. But any kitchen appliance that is small, not so readily used, and easy to unplug should be unplugged. Things like toasters, coffee makers, juicers, and food processors for example should be unplugged.
3. Computers
To be honest, screen savers, sleep mode, and power mode don’t save much energy. Get in the habit of unplugging your computer every night. Not only is this a real energy saver, but it also can protect your computer from serious damage if you ever have a power surge.
4. Entertainment Systems
Entertainment systems are one of the worst offenders when it comes to waisting electricity. While unplugging all your devices (TV, cable box, stereo system etc.) each time you’ve finished the evening news just to plug them all in again and wait for them to reboot may not be very practical, unplugging them all when you leave for vacation is a smart idea. Or to make things easier, invest in a power strip with a simple on/off switch. That way you can quickly cut power to all the devices you need to with a flick of a switch.
Don’t Unplug
5. Large Appliances
We suggest living the following items plugged in for convenience and ease of use:
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher
- Washer/Dryer
- Water heater
If you plan on going on vacation you may want to consider unplugging these larger items (with the exception of the refrigerator) since they won’t be needed.
6. Power Strips
One gadget that you can definitely leave plugged in (and probably should have more of) is a power strip with a switch. If you flip the switch on the power strip, power will be cut off to all your devices, eliminating phantom power usage.
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