According to the Environmental Protection Agency, electronics, adaptors and appliances cost Americans almost $10 billion a year and account for almost 11 percent of all U.S. energy use.  These "energy vampires" suck power even when not in use or they are turned off.

Ten billion dollars sounds kind of abstract, doesn't it?  According to EnergyStar, U.S. households spend $100 a year to power devices in a standby power mode.

EnergyStar estimates that there are more than 1.5 billion power adapters in use across the country - about five per person. That makes sense.  In our home, we have 2 cell phones, a BlueTooth wireless ear piece, 2 electronic lockbox keys, a digital camera, 2 laptops, etc.  We easily cover the five adapters per person.

While $10 billion is a lot of money, it's money that can be very easily saved.  Just unplug your chargers whenever they aren't in use.  For more energy saving tips, go to www.begreenminded.com .