You might assume that when you turn your television or lamp off, it's no longer using electricity — but for a lot of devices that's not the case. Many home appliances still consume small amounts of electricity when plugged in, even if they're turned off. This type of power consumption, known as "vampire energy" or "phantom energy," can have a substantive impact on your electric bill — but experts say there are ways to combat this.

How does 'vampire energy' work?

Wasted electricity from vampire energy "comes from leaving devices plugged in when they're not in use," said The Associated Press . The most notable example of this are entertainment devices. Many televisions with internet connections and smart wake capabilities "allow them to interact with phones and other devices," allowing

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