Have you heard of "energy vampires"? These are devices and appliances that are plugged into an outlet and continue to draw electricity even if they are turned off or not being used. The latest statistics say that this unnecessary power drain costs Americans more than $19 billion a year. To help save electricity and knock a little off of your monthly bill, consider unplugging these top-5 energy vampires: desktop computers, televisions, cable boxes, speakers and microwaves.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

At the end of the year, many of us go around the house and replace the alkaline batteries in our smoke and fire detectors with fresh batteries. This is a smart idea for the health and safety of your family. But those batteries are far from dead and shouldn't be tossed into the trash. Save them and use them for other household items like remote controls, children's toys and anything else that uses batteries. Use them up until they are totally dead and then properly dispose of them.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

A wood- or pellet-burning stove can be an economical and efficient way to heat a room or house, but which model and size of stove should you purchase? First, look for stoves that are EPA-certified for being the most efficient models. Second, understand that the size of the stove is critically important. If it's too big, you'll end up burning at a "low smolder" to avoid overheating, which wastes fuel. If a stove is rated 60,000 BTUs, it can heat a 2,000-square-foot home. Choose less BTUs for a smaller home and more for larger.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION