Living in a capitalist society, the name of the game is money. Seeking money, big shots have done whatever it takes from wiping rainforests to destroying the ocean in the end result of more money. Recently these actions have finally had some consequences. Scientists have stepped up declaring a worldwide issue of climate change. From everyday tasks like eating chips or going on your desktop affect our world greatly. Humans have adapted to this new lazy lifestyle resulting in people creating massive carbon footprints. A simple way to reduce your carbon footprint takes place in your home. All of those adapters, cords, and chargers plugged in are using some energy. It is known to be "standby" electricity loss due to its correlation with electrons in idle or standby, however the correct jargon is "phantom" or "vampire" electricity. This means that the charger or cord is still using power even if no appliance or device is on or even connected. Though a small amount of energy is being consumed it begins to add up with so many instances occurring in your house. Not only would unplugging these cords or chargers when not in use diminish your carbon footprint but also save you money. According to the New York Times, "the cost of plugged-in but not used devices is about $165 per household, or $19 billion across the U.S. That amounts to about 44 million tons of carbon dioxide, or 4.6% of the country’s total residential electricity generation." The amount of wasted money over a task that takes less than a second is outrageous. All in all, getting rid of phantom electricity is a money saver and helps your carbon footprint.

Works Cited:

Vadim, Vanessa. “Should I Unplug My Appliances and, If so, Will I Save Money on My Electric Bill?” MNN, Mother Nature Network, 1 Nov. 2019, www.mnn.com/green-tech/gadgets-electronics/questions/should-i-unplug-my-appliances-and-if-so-will-i-save-money.