Does unplugging appliances save you money? (2024)

Take a quick mental check of all the electrical devices in your home and you’ll probably be a little shocked by just how many you have plugged in, drawing down power.

The estimates vary on how much these “vampire energy consumers” are actually costing you every year but they can be as high as £95. Generally, most households will be using around £30 in electricity by leaving devices plugged in.

Some studies suggest that homes can have up to 40 gadgets constantly drawing power but it’s true that most of them use hardly any electricity at all. Even so, it’s energy that is just going to waste.

How much electricity do appliances use when turned off?

Some device may take just a small amount of energy but it’s always wise to unplug, especially older inefficient products. The average amount of energy consumed by gadgets on standby or in a non-active state between 9% and 16% of a home’s total energy bill.

Some appliances use more energy when on standby than others – like games consoles, for instance. These are among the worst energy vampires in the home and they stay in “idle” mode when they are not being used. That means they will be using almost as much electricity as when you are playing.

Does unplugging appliances save you money? (1)

According to a survey by Confused.com, games consoles are costing households £231 million a year. The same study also found that 45% of British households leave appliances on standby while 38% leave appliances turned on at the wall. Overall, TVs and other entertainment appliances account for around 25% of an electricity bill.

For phones, it’s good to get into the habit of charging your devices for a couple of hours in the evenings rather than overnight and unplug your chargers afterwards.

Should I unplug everything at night?

For some appliances, it’s a no brainer to keep them working all the time, like fridge freezers. Turning off the fridge freezer means the interior temperature will rise so it would use extra energy to back to a suitably cool temperature. And that’s without considering the potential health issues.

It’s definitely worth checking how energy efficient your fridge freezer is and if it’s an older model, consider replacing it with a C or higher model. The older it is, the more likely that it is not running at optimum efficiency so will be using more electricity than necessary.

Also, it’s generally best to not to unplug internet routers and set top boxes to maintain the best service. And for appliances like ovens and digital clock radios, turning them off saves so little that the hassle of resetting them outweighs any benefits.

Generally, the easiest way to stop wasting energy is to unplug devices at the wall, plugging them back in just as you are about to use them. You can also invest in an extension power bar with an on/off switch so you can turn off several appliances at the same time.

Be smart with your power

Another option is to look at usingsmart plugs to provide you with more flexibility and control. For example, connect a games console or a TV to a smart plug to ensure it’s turned off without needing to squeeze behind furniture. You also remove the anxiety of thinking “did I turn the TV off?” when going on holiday, just turn it off via your phone!

Does unplugging appliances save you money? (2)

Does unplugging appliances save you money? (2024)

FAQs

Does unplugging appliances save you money? ›

While unplugging appliances can reduce your energy costs, you have to decide whether the savings are worth it. The United States Department of Energy estimates that you can save $100 per year on your energy bill by unplugging your appliances. That comes out to $8.33 per month (or about 27 cents per day).

Can you save electricity by unplugging appliances? ›

This continual use of power drives up your monthly electric bill. There's a simple solution, though: Just unplug the appliances when you aren't using them. According to the US Department of Energy, unplugging these devices could save the average household up to $100 a year.

How much money is saved by unplugging appliances? ›

The United States Department of Energy reports that homeowners can save anywhere between $100 and $200 each year by unplugging devices not in use. Typically, an item drawing a single watt of energy costs about one dollar to power annually.

What are the benefits of unplugging appliances? ›

Devices like televisions, computers, and even kitchen appliances continue to draw power in standby mode. By unplugging these appliances, we can significantly reduce our electricity bills and conserve energy. Unplugging appliances is also a crucial safety measure.

Does turning appliances off at the plug save money? ›

Turning off your appliances at the wall won't magically cut your power bill in half, but it can help you further conserve energy and save on electricity. Every little bit counts!

What is the simple trick to cut the electric bill? ›

Try these effective ways to lower your bill.
  1. Do an energy audit.
  2. Give your thermostat a nudge.
  3. Adjust your fridge and freezer temperature.
  4. Keep up with routine maintenance.
  5. Take shorter showers.
  6. Replace your showerhead.
  7. Wash clothes in warm or cold water.
  8. Adjust the temperature on your water heater.
Jan 4, 2024

Which appliances should be unplugged when not in use? ›

Leave toaster ovens, coffee makers, food processors, blenders, air fryers, and stand mixers unplugged until it's time to use them. Leaving things like toaster ovens and air fryers unplugged also lowers the risk of fires.

What wastes the most electricity in a home? ›

What costs the most on your electric bill? Heating and cooling are by far the greatest energy users in the home, making up around 40% of your electric bill. Other big users are washers, dryers, ovens, and stoves. Electronic devices like laptops and TVs are usually pretty cheap to run, but of course, it can all add up.

Does leaving lamps plugged in use electricity? ›

The same goes for all those chargers, whether or not they are charging a smartphone. Everything you leave plugged into an outlet—appliances, computers, consoles, chargers, lamps, and more —draws energy even when not in use. Energy is not only converted for household use, it's also used by power suppliers.

Does leaving a microwave plugged in use electricity? ›

Microwaves are one of the most energy-efficient appliances in your kitchen. The amount of energy they use to heat food is much lower than that of a conventional oven. But like all appliances, microwaves still consume electricity when they're plugged in, even if they're not being used.

Is turning off the power strip the same as unplugging? ›

Surge protector power strips typically have such switches and help protect your appliances and electronics If you plug all of your products into a power strip and flip off the power strip when these items are not in use, they are truly off. Unplug Your Products.

How much electricity is used by leaving things plugged in? ›

The average home has dozens of items plugged in at any given time. What's more, 75 per cent of the electricity these devices consume is used when they aren't even on. That's a lot of energy. In fact, all that phantom power can add up to 10 per cent of a home's energy costs.

Should you unplug a toaster when not in use? ›

Because anything plugged into an outlet is using your electricity whether it is on or off. Sometimes even if the toaster is new, if your wiring is old it can blow at any time. Its really smart to leave things unplugged like a toaster or coffee machine unless they are in use.

Does leaving a phone charger plugged in use electricity? ›

Even when your phone is not connected to the charger, the charger itself is still using energy. So if you leave it plugged in all the time, you could be wasting a lot of money on your electricity bill.

How much money can I save by unplugging appliances? ›

While unplugging appliances can reduce your energy costs, you have to decide whether the savings are worth it. The United States Department of Energy estimates that you can save $100 per year on your energy bill by unplugging your appliances. That comes out to $8.33 per month (or about 27 cents per day).

Does it cost money to keep things plugged in? ›

The Natural Resources Defense Council says the cost of plugged-in but not used devices is about $165 per household, or $19 billion across the U.S. That amounts to about 44 million tons of carbon dioxide, or 4.6% of the country's total residential electricity generation.

Do appliances still use electricity when plugged in? ›

Did you know that when your appliances or electronic devices are plugged in, they're draining energy – even if they're not in use? Phantom power, also called standby power, refers to the energy that's wasted around your home when devices are plugged in and using power, but you're not actively using them.

Does leaving chargers plugged in use electricity? ›

Even when your phone is not connected to the charger, the charger itself is still using energy. So if you leave it plugged in all the time, you could be wasting a lot of money on your electricity bill.

Is switching off at the wall the same as unplugging? ›

Assuming the socket is wired to be depowered by the wall switch, then yes. Its functionally the same.

Is electricity wasted if we switch on a socket and not use it? ›

Turning on the switch causes the current to flow, assuming something is plugged into the circuit. If nothing is plugged in, and the switch is turned on, no current flows, none is wasted.

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