“Phantom” electricity, that is. And it’s actually spookier than it sounds: “Phantom loads,” or “standby power,” is the slow leaching of electricity from the many appliances than never really turn off.

• Keep fridges and freezers full but not overcrowded.
Here are some tips to keep things energy-efficient in there:
• Arrange contents in a way that lets air circulate.
• Keep the freezer full by filling plastic milk bottles with water.
• Make sure doors fit tightly. Here’s a test: Close the door on a dollar bill. If you can pull the dollar out easily, the gasket isn’t sealing properly.
• Don’t open the doors unnecessarily.