Households with these nine appliances face extra charges every year for one simple mistake. Leaving appliances on standby can actually use up quite a lot of energy, more than you realise. Experts have urged households to save money on energy bills by checking that appliances are switched off at the plug. These devices, dubbed “vampire devices” by energy experts, are using electricity whilst they’re ‘resting’, draining energy and money from your bank account at the same time.
That is according to a new study conducted by energy experts at Electric Radiators Direct, which has revealed that the simple mistake of not unplugging common appliances. By not unplugging common household appliances, households are spending an average of £130 more per year, the study found. However, nine appliances are the biggest energy guzzlers when in standby mode, costing households an average of £111.29 per year. The biggest savings can be made by turning off game consoles, which cost £2.70 a month, that’s a saving of £32.42 a year, the experts revealed.
According to the study, the largest energy guzzlers are:
- Games console: £32.42
- Gaming PC: £20.96
- Desktop computer: £18.15
- TV: £13.61
- Speaker/Digital radio: £9.51
- Oven: £7.78
- Kettle: £4.97
- Microwave: £4.75
- Air fryer: £3.89
Energy efficiency expert Stephen Hankinson from Electric Radiators Direct said: “Putting something into standby mode is not the same as totally switching off a device or unplugging it. You’re only really putting the device to sleep.
“This means that it will be drawing out some electricity in the background, which is where the phrase ‘vampire device’ comes from.”
He added: “It sounds so simple but switching your appliances off at the wall really is the best way to ensure you’re not spending your hard-earned income on keeping things in standby mode.
“The cost of a couple of coffees might not concern you however, £132 is a big food shop, two tanks of petrol or even a nice meal out. There really are much better ways to use this money than giving it to the energy companies.”
The exact cost of each appliance in standby mode depends on a number of things, including the model and size of the appliance, and your home’s energy rating. This means that some annual costs might be lower, while some households might pay even more.