You might be shocked at how many ‚vampire devices‘ could be in your home, silently draining power.
Unplugging idle devices can save on power bills.
TVs, consoles, coffee makers, and mini-fridges are top culprits.
Small daily changes help cut energy waste and lower electricity costs.
With costs climbing across the US, energy prices stand out, made worse by record-breaking summer heat and recent waves of scorching temperatures that have affected multiple states. Having endured several of them this season, I’m always looking for ways to reduce energy use.
There are many small things you can do to shave dollars off your monthly energy bill, and they go beyond simply switching off the lights when you leave the room. Did you know that you can save 3% on cooling costs for every 1°F decrease in your thermostat setting? As a fan of data, I’ve explored multiple quantifiable ways to save energy and how these methods translate into financial savings.
Unplugging a single device when not in use won’t save you a significant amount of money. However, unplugging multiple devices can add up quickly to help you save, especially when you make it a habit. Here are the devices you should unplug when they’re not in use, and how doing so could save you almost $200 a year, depending on your local rates.TVs, gaming consoles, and office devices
It’s easy to forget to unplug TVs that aren’t in daily use, but it happens more often than you’d think. This is especially true if you have a TV in a guest room or common area that isn’t often occupied. Simply unplugging your TVs when not in use could save you between $2 and $6 a year for each one. As soon as I learned this, I ran to unplug my guest room and office TV.
Similarly, a printer left plugged in can cost between $3 and $8 a year when idle. One can consume between 2W and 6W when not in use, adding another good savings option.
A single gaming console like a PlayStation or Xbox can consume between 1.5W and 10W in standby power, which can cost up to a dollar each month for a device that is not in use. It’s a good idea to unplug these devices when you’ll be out of the house or overnight, just keep in mind that you may still want to leave them in rest mode so you don’t miss an update.
You should also consider unplugging sound bars and speakers when not in use, especially in areas that don’t get daily use.Coffee makers and kitchen devices
Unfortunately, I learned the hard way that my Keurig coffeemaker was driving up my power bill. I kept my Keurig in standby mode, rather than asleep, so it was always ready to brew a cup of coffee. This can consume from 60W and 70W because it has to keep the water warm and ready.
