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I’m sitting at my desk in a heatwave; the curtains are drawn, the windows and doors are shut, and a fan whirrs in the background. I have a cool drink by my side to keep me hydrated, but I’m still struggling in the intense heat.I know I’m not alone in my attempts to keep cool as I battle against the high temperatures. And despite practicing the Caveman Method (yes, it works), I’ve run out of other options, or so I thought. There’s one way I can reduce the heat in my home that won’t cost me a dime; in fact, it will save me money, and it’s all to do with unplugging ‘phantom heaters’.Why 'phantom heaters' should be unplugged in a heatwaveMany of our household electronics produce what’s known as ‘phantom energy’ just by being plugged in. Even when they’re switched off or idle, this standby power continuously converts into ambient heat.During a heatwave, every fraction of extra warmth makes it harder to cool your home. But by unplugging these heat-generating appliances, you can give your AC a break and drop the indoor temperature.1. Gaming consoles
(Image credit: Girts Ragelis / Getty Images)Not many homes go without a gaming console, and as a mom of two grown adults, I've experienced firsthand the amount of heat they emit. PlayStation, Nintendo and XBox consoles will all up the temperature inside.Even in standby mode, these heat monsters create a lot of energy. So rather than keeping them plugged it, the advice in a heatwave is to unplug them all.2. Kitchen appliances
