Televisions. TVs can be some of the most energy-sucking devices in your home – especially modern “smart” TVs with all the bells and whistles. That’s because they come with power-hungry features like satellite TV, Wi-Fi connectivity, DVR capabilities, and more. They use energy even when turned off.
Computers. Computers don’t use nearly as much energy as TVs, especially if they’re smaller devices such as laptops and tablets. But their chargers can be major energy vampires, since they’ll keep converting energy even when the battery is fully charged or the device isn’t plugged in. Be sure to unplug the charger from the outlet to avoid using phantom power.
Refrigerators. Refrigerators are major energy vampires, but there’s not much you can do about that except to buy one that’s more energy-efficient. Unless you’re going on vacation, unplugging them is more trouble than it's worth.
Thermostats. Your thermostat, air conditioner, and hot water heater use a lot of energy, but you can’t turn them off. Your best bet is to choose a smart thermostat and program it so it doesn’t use more power than necessary.
Electric toothbrush. Because of its small size, this may not seem like a major energy vampire, but if you leave it plugged in all the time, it can be. Once your toothbrush is fully charged, remove it from the charger and unplug it.
Kitchen appliances. Microwaves, coffee makers, and other small appliances don’t use a lot of power individually, but together it can add up. Choose items without a clock or digital display to reduce their power consumption.