Do you leave your coffee pot plugged in when it's not in use? What about your hair dryer or radio? If you do, you could be losing hundreds of dollars a year in utility bills and wasting more energy than you may have ever realized.

According to Utility Dive, devices that are "always on" waste $19 billion in electricity every year when they aren't being used.

The report conducted by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) found that the energy wasted is equal to about $165 per average household. That is an approximate output of 500 MW of generating capacity.

In addition, research from the LA Times concluded that the typical home cable box consumes up to 35 watts of energy, even when not in use, costing homeowners about $8 every month.

The information, based on data from thousands of California smart meters and in-home energy audits, highlights the need for awareness of "vampire energy drainers" or unused, plugged in appliances.

The NRDC has found that consumers lose up to $440 annually because of these appliances. They have become a number one target for utility efficiency programs.

"Appliances like washers, dryers, and fridges now have displays, electronic controls, and increasingly even Internet connectivity, for example… in many cases, they are using far more electricity than necessary," said NRDC's director of high-tech sector energy efficiency Pierre Delforge. 

Always on, but inactive devices account for almost 23 percent of electricity consumption in California. Although these numbers were only studied in California, researchers believe the numbers can be applied to the U.S. as a whole, as people in every state buy these kinds of appliances.

Scheduling an energy audit with Alban Home Inspectors can help you discover these energy wasters in addition to other steps you can take to reduce energy consumption. Home energy efficiency begins with you. Visit our website for more information.