They’re lurking in your home right now: energy thirsty objects that are draining your bank account.

Items such as cell phone chargers, DVD players and even your microwave might be turned off, but they’re still guzzling up valuable voltage. It’s time to slay those energy vampires that have taken over your home.

Also known as phantom energy, it’s electricity that continues to flow through something even though it’s not in use. Two great examples are cell phone and iPod chargers, which most people leave plugged in at all times. Even when they’re not busy charging your devices, as long as they’re plugged in, energy continues to pulse through them.

The fix is pretty simple and works for a lot of your home’s gadgets and gizmos: just unplug them when they’re not being used.

Another example lies in your home office. When your computer and monitor aren’t in use, they still draw a lot of electricity. The simple solution is to use a power strip.

Yet another good place for a power strip is in your TV room. Beware: turning off your cable box or DVR will prevent your favorite shows from recording, but using the power strip on your DVD player and television is a good way to save energy and money.

While these ideas may sound extreme, as much as 5% of your electric bill is likely for energy that you’re not even using.