Spring may be here, but that doesn’t mean it’s T-shirt and shorts weather. If you’re still relying on a space heater or curling up with an electric blanket come bedtime, it could be a while before your electricity bill starts to drop. You can save money today, though. Some of the appliances and devices you’re using are silently draining power, and your wallet. But there’s an easy fix: Unplug them.
Rising energy costs are a common concern. A recent CNET survey found that about 78% of US adults are stressed about high energy bills, and some recent Reddit threads also show this. Many users are looking for practical, legal ways to lower their bills without compromising on their comfort.
There are plenty of ways to tackle these seasonal energy surges, however. A key tactic is addressing “energy vampires” — the devices and appliances that draw electricity even when they’re switched off. Items like TVs, computers, printers, coffee makers and even electric toothbrushes are common culprits.
To minimize the impact of energy vampires on your energy bills, experts recommend unplugging these devices when they’re not being used. It may seem like a small step, but according to the US Department of Energy, this simple habit can save the average household up to $100 annually.
Below, we’ll answer how much money unplugging home appliances can actually save you and whether the energy savings are worth unplugging and replugging appliances each day. Plus, to maximize your energy savings, we also have tips on how to lower your water bill, the best temperature to set your thermostat at to save money and the energy-efficient way to do laundry to cut utility costs.
Can unplugging appliances actually save me money?
It might seem counterintuitive to unplug your appliances. After all, they’re off, so why would they be sucking up energy?
The fact is, household appliances actually still use energy even when they are turned off but still plugged in, according to Energy.gov. Whether the device is switched off or in standby mode, some of the worst offenders are:
- A device that may still use energy in the form of lights or other displays showing the device is off.
- Desktop computers that were put into sleep mode instead of being powered off.
- Chargers that still draw power even if the device is not connected.
- Media players that continually draw power, especially ones that still might scan for updates in the background.
- Phones with displays that show when not in active use, like cordless phones.
- New smart home appliances like refrigerators, washers and dryers that have always-on displays, internet connectivity and electronic controls.
Watch this: Easy Ways to Lower Your Utility Bills and Save Money
Reduce your standby power to save electricity and money
Many people are shocked to realize how much standby power can add up. Standby power accounts for 5% to 10% of residential energy use, according to the Department of Energy.
How much you save could depend on how many devices you use — and your habits with them. For instance, an educational experiment from Colorado State University found that a combo radio/CD player/tape player used 4 watts continually, whether it was in use or not. Unplugging it when not in use would save 100 times as much power during the lifetime of the device.
A study published by the Natural Resources Defense Council (PDF) found that reducing the load from always-on devices would save consumers a total of $8 billion annually and avoid using 64 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. It also has environmental benefits, like preventing 44 million metric tons of carbon dioxide pollution. The NRDC estimated the cost of always-on devices at up to $165 per household per year on average.
Buying a smart plug can help you conserve energy by controlling the power on virtually any device you plug in. This plug from Leviton is CNET’s top pick.