Ever heard of ‘vampire devices’? You might be shocked at how many gadgets in your home are silently draining power.
With costs climbing across the US, energy prices stand out -made worse by record-breaking summer heat and recent waves scorching multiple states. Having endured several of them this season, I’m always searching for ways to cut back on energy use.
There are many little things you can do that can shave dollars off your monthly energy bill, and they go beyond switching off the lights when you leave the room. Did you know you can save 3% on cooling costs for every 1°F increase in your thermostat? As a fan of data, I’ve looked into multiple quantifiable ways to save energy and how these translate into saving money.
Unplugging a single device when not in use isn’t going to save you a bucket of cash. But unplugging multiple devices adds up quickly to help you save, especially when you make a habit of it. 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.1. 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.2. 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. This can translate into up to $60 a year.
Similarly, a mini-fridge can cost you up to $130 a year to run, which doesn’t always pay off if you don’t need it to run all the time.
