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Today’s word is: energy vampire /ˈɛnədʒɪ ˈvæmpaɪə/
- This term is used to describe electrical and electronic appliances that continue to use up electricity and/or remain in standby mode even after they have been switched off and are no longer performing their primary function. Ususally they tend to be appliances that have a) remote controls, b) continuous digital displays and c) rechargeable batteries and/or external power supplies.
It is useful to mention that up to 10% of an average household’s energy bill is made up of energy vampires and that doesn’t take into account the excess electro-magnetic energy waves absorbed by our bodies unnecessarily. Energy vampires are also referred to as phantom load, vampire appliances, standby power and leaking electricity.
Bonus Trivia: The term energy vampire is also used in popular psychology to describe a person who is excessively negatives and “sucks” energy out of those surrounding them.
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photo credit: Erik Mallinson via photopin cc