Vampires could be in your home right now!

Not the mythical bloodsuckers that populate your kids’ favorite movies and your favorite TV show, but household items that sap energy while not in use.

Wellesley’s Sustainable Energy Committee has issued a fact sheet (pdf at right) and homework exercises to Wellesley Public School students to inform them about vampire energy sources.

The exercises will teach students how to detect an energy vampire and how much energy that vampire uses.

The fact sheet suggests unplugging items such as microwaves, coffee makers and even printers to reduce costs.

The concept plays into Wellesley’s commitment to reach its goal of lowering energy usage 10 percent by 2013.