Do you have appliances with remote controls, rechargeable batteries or electronic displays? Even turned off, they are sipping electricity—running up your electric bill—24 hours a day. The U.S. Department of Energy says this standby power use can be 5 to 8 percent of your energy bill. Plug the electricity drain by unplugging these energy-sippers when you’re not using them or by plugging them into—and shutting them off with—a power strip.

Find more tips in the DOE’s 35-page brochure “Energy Saver$: Tips on Saving Energy & Money at Home.”

Learn how much you’re paying to keep your appliances on standby at MyGreenElectronics.org.