I’m still in the calm before the storm. My power bill hasn’t spiked yet and won’t for another couple months. But I can only fight off the inevitable with open windows and fans for so long. Eventually, I’ll have to crank up my deafening air conditioner to combat the 90 degree F days (or worse).

So what can I do in the meantime to help keep my bills low? An easy start is to unplug those energy-draining appliances and gadgets that suck vampire power from helpless sockets. Vampire power, also known as phantom load, is a result of standby mode, a deceptive, costly state of electronic existence. While gadgets might look like they’re switched to “off,” many continue to supply power to certain systems and display screens. Cell-phone adapters and other chargers give off a constant charge — even if there’s nothing plugged into the other end.