If you turn off all the lights in your house late at night, you can probably still find your way by the dim glow of your electronics. Even if you turn your electronics “off”, are they really off?

 

Your Blu-ray player or microwave probably still show the time (or flash 00:00) and a rainbow of tiny lights persistently shines from most other items, sucking up what’s called “phantom energy”. This ghost-like power drain manifests not only in lights you can see, but internally wastes power on things like waiting for your command from the remote control.