CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- This Halloween, Duke Energy
(NYSE: DUK) is declaring war on energy vampires - household electronics,
gadgets and tools that sap electricity and cause power bills to rise.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040414/DUKEENERGYLOGO)
Devices that draw vampire energy, also known as "phantom" or "stand-by"
energy, can account for as much as 20 percent of a home's power use, according
to some studies. The most common culprits: plug-in adapters for rechargeable,
battery-powered electronics such as cell phones, cordless phones, digital
music players, power tools, electric toothbrushes and other similar devices.
Most of these adapters consume energy whenever they are plugged into an
outlet, even if the device is not connected. Appliances and electronic
equipment with stand-by capability also use electricity when they are not in
use; flat-panel televisions and digital video recorders are examples.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the average U.S.
household spends $100 per year to power devices while they are supposedly off
or in stand-by mode. This vampire power collectively adds up to more than $10
billion in annual energy costs.
As Halloween approaches, Duke Energy offers the following tips to combat
energy vampires:
-- Wait until nightfall, then turn off the lights in your home and look
for
the eyes that glow. The eerie stand-by lights on devices such as cable
boxes, LCD televisions and cell phone chargers are tell-tale signs
that
you're falling victim to energy vampires. (Keep in mind that some
devices may need to be on 24-7 in order to function as intended.)
-- Unplug devices that are not in use, especially adapters for
battery-powered devices that are already fully charged or not
connected.
-- Equip yourself with power strips or surge suppressors. Plugging
appliances and other electronic equipment into these units make it
easy
to turn the power off with a single switch. (Surge suppressors will
also
protect your valuable electronics during storms.)
-- Look for electronic devices and appliances with the Energy Star® label
because they use less electricity when in use and during stand-by
mode.
Duke Energy provides energy and cost-saving tips, videos and online tools on
its Web site at www.duke-energy.com. Additional information is also available
on the U.S. Department of Energy Web site at
http://www.energy.gov/energytips.htm.
Duke Energy, one of the largest electric power companies in the United States,
supplies and delivers electricity to approximately 4 million U.S. customers in
its regulated jurisdictions. The company has approximately 35,000 megawatts of
electric generating capacity in the Midwest and the Carolinas, and natural gas
distribution services in Ohio and Kentucky. In addition, Duke Energy has more
than 4,000 megawatts of electric generation in Latin America, and is a
joint-venture partner in a U.S. real estate company. Headquartered in
Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 500 company traded on the New York
Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is
available on the Internet at: www.duke-energy.com.
MEDIA CONTACT: Greg Efthimiou
Phone: 704-382-1925
24-Hour: 800-559-3853
SOURCE Duke Energy
Greg Efthimiou, +1-704-382-1925, 24-Hour: 1-800-559-3853
