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# Cutting the vampire appliances
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/cutting-the-vampire-appliances/
- Published: 2009-05-31T12:05:25.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T23:01:26.000Z
- Author: openDemocracy Supporters
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 19:57

**May 31st 2009\. Join the Group Read. Chapter 22\. Can we be more efficient users of electricity?**

(Instructions on how to join are [at the bottom of the original post](https://www.opendemocracy.net/article/economics/energy-without-hot-air-group-read))

  
Many gadgets consume a surprising amount of power on standby. David cut his electricity consumption by half by making sure his "vampire appliances" were kept off. There are real savings available here. David and friends set up "[ReadYourMeter.org](http://readyourmeter.org/?ref=opendemocracy.net)" to try to encourage others to make this sort of saving. According to the International Energy Agency, standby power consumes a surprising8% of residential electricity.