Many things we use today don’t “turn off” when we turn them off, but go into standby or sleep mode that still draws energy.  Other electronics are just plain energy guzzlers.  Here are a few ideas to pull the plug on these energy hogs:

• Turn off your computer and your monitor when they’re not being used. Desktop computers use 60 to 250 watts of electricity.
• Consider using a laptop instead of desktop.  Laptops use 15 to 45 watts.
• Set your computer to auto-sleep instead of depending on a screensaver. Screensavers don’t save electricity.  Computers use 1 to 6 watts when they’re in standby mode.
• Plug home electronics such as TVs and DVD players into power strips; turn the power strips off when the electronics are not in use.  TVs and DVDs in standby mode still use several watts of power.
• Avoid leaving devices like cell phone chargers that continue to use electricity plugged in when they’re not being used.
• Anything that has a clock – even when the device is off – is using energy.  Decide what appliances can be unplugged until needed.
• Cordless phone chargers also draw power when they’re not charging a phone. Consider plugging in only when it’s time to recharge the phone.