I unplugged my microwave between uses for 2 weeks this April to see if it would cut my electric bill. This is what happened

in our monthly utility costs. Phantom loads, or standby power, refer to the electricity consumed by electronics while they are switched off or in a standby mode. Household appliances, including microwaves, can contribute significantly to these phantom loads. Even when an appliance is not actively running, it is still drawing power to sustain inner memory settings, clocks, and internal sensors.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, standby power can account for 5-10% of residential energy use. When you consider every single device in a standard home, that percentage