There's a reason Halloween feels like the unofficial kickoff to the holiday lighting season. Skeletons strung with fairy lights, jack-o'-lanterns flickering on porches, animatronic ghosts groaning from the bushes — it's one of the most decorated holidays of the year, and most of us never stop to think about what's actually powering the spookiness. But behind every glowing pumpkin and strobing porch light is a small, seasonal spike in energy demand that's worth understanding, especially if you want your decorations to be both dazzling and safe.
This spooky season is a perfect time to take on energy vampires. Also known as phantom loads, energy vampires continue to draw electricity even when they’re turned off or in standby mode.