Molly Ayala
Many electrical appliances continue to draw power even when switched off, leading to energy waste and higher electricity bills. These are often referred to as vampire appliances or phantom loads, and they can account for up to 10% of your energy bill. Examples include TVs, computers, chargers, electric clocks, and game consoles. To reduce energy consumption and costs, you can unplug appliances when not in use, use power strips, or take advantage of built-in energy-saving features such as timers. Additionally, choosing energy-efficient appliances, such as ENERGY STAR-rated products, can help lower your electricity bill in the long run.
Characteristics and Values of Appliances that Consume Electricity without Being on
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Appliances with timers and LED displays | Consume electricity even after being turned off |
| Appliances with clocks | Consume electricity when plugged in |
| Modern video game consoles | Consume energy in standby mode |
| TVs and cable boxes | Consume around 2% of monthly electricity in standby mode |
| Phone chargers | Draw approximately 0.1 to 0.5 watts per hour when plugged in without a phone |
| Wireless phones | Consume 2-3 watts per hour during active usage or recharging |
| Computers, clock radios, printers, and DVD players | Consume electricity when technically turned off |
| Electric showers | One of the most expensive household appliances in terms of electricity usage |
| Washing machines, tumble dryers, and dishwashers | Account for 14-16% of a typical energy bill |
| Kettles | Overfilling can increase electricity usage |
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What You'll Learn
Televisions and cable boxes
Televisions today are impressively energy-efficient. However, they often run even when you are not watching them, especially when they are in standby mode, waiting to be turned on by the remote. According to a Natural Resources Defense Council (NDRC) study, televisions used an average of 13 watts in standby mode. Assuming an idle time of 20 hours a day, that's $15.75 per year spent on standby power for a single TV.
Cable boxes are also one of the biggest users of standby power. Cable boxes spend their downtime updating cable guides and software, and their internal drives are constantly moving. The NDRC study found that cable box standby power usage averaged 16 watts. A cable box that is idle for 20 hours a day uses 116.8 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity in a year, which equates to an extra $19.39 per year on your electric bill.
To reduce the amount of electricity consumed by televisions and cable boxes, you can unplug them when they are not in use. While it may not be practical to unplug your cable box every time you turn off your TV, you can also use a power strip to control the flow of power to these devices. Another option is to take advantage of built-in energy-saving features such as timers, or switch them to energy-saving mode during the night.
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Video game consoles
Video gaming is among the most intensive uses of electricity in homes. In the United States, video games consume $6 billion worth of electricity annually, more than electric water heaters, cooking appliances, clothes dryers, dishwashers, or freezers. Globally, PC gamers use about 75 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity a year, equivalent to the output of 25 electric power plants.
The energy consumption of gaming consoles has increased significantly since the 1970s. Today's games use 50 times more electricity than the early games, such as Atari's Pong. The PlayStation 4 (PS4), for example, uses 181 kilowatt-hours per year, which is double the amount consumed by the previous generation, the PlayStation 3 (PS3). Even when not in use, gaming consoles can draw power, contributing to energy waste over time.
To reduce energy consumption, it is recommended to turn off consoles and unplug them when not in use. Some consoles offer energy-saving power modes, and automatic shutdown functions can also help save power. The ENERGY STAR® website provides instructions for setting up popular game consoles to minimize energy consumption without sacrificing gameplay.
Portable consoles, such as the Nintendo Switch, tend to have lower power consumption, but this can sometimes come at the cost of graphical fidelity. Newer Nintendo Switch models take between 3 and 3.5 hours to charge, drawing between 7.5 and 18 watts. During gameplay on battery power, the Nintendo Switch uses 18 watts of energy.
Upgrades can also reduce power consumption. Replacing an old hard drive with a solid-state drive (SSD) can decrease energy usage and eliminate the need for a fan. Additionally, choosing more efficient equipment and adopting energy-conscious playing habits can significantly reduce a gamer's carbon footprint.
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Chargers
Many chargers can detect when there is no draw on the DC current portion of the circuit, and they will cut energy consumption to near zero. However, if the converter stays warm even when the device it is supposed to charge is not plugged into it, then you’re wasting energy on the converter whenever it is plugged in, regardless of whether it’s charging or not.
Some chargers, such as USB-based phone chargers, consume no electricity when no phone is plugged into them. However, chargers for devices such as laptops, tablets, electric toothbrushes and Bluetooth headphones are adding to your electric bill even when they’re not actually charging.
One way to reduce this energy consumption is to get into the habit of unplugging your chargers when they are not in use. This will not only save energy but will also extend the lifespan of your devices.
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Appliances with clocks
These appliances are considered "vampire appliances" because they continue to draw power even when switched off or on standby, increasing electricity bills. Vampire appliances can account for up to 10% of your energy bill. To reduce energy consumption, you can unplug appliances when not in use or use power strips and turn them off when the appliances are not being used.
Televisions are a notable example of vampire appliances. Even when turned off, modern TVs remain on standby, waiting for a signal from the remote to turn on. Additionally, features like listening functionality to respond to voice commands also consume electricity.
Other examples of appliances that consume electricity when not in active use include video game consoles, computers, printers, and cable boxes. These devices often have network connectivity, requiring constant power to maintain their functions, receive updates, or respond to remote commands.
It is important to be mindful of the energy consumption of appliances with clocks or those that remain connected to power sources even when not actively in use. By taking steps such as unplugging or using power strips, you can reduce energy waste and lower your electricity costs.
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Computers and printers
Computers, for example, use up to 450W of energy per hour when actively used. Laptops, on the other hand, usually use about 50W when in use, and this figure drops to around a third when placed on standby. If you use a computer daily, switching to a laptop may be a good energy-saving option as laptops use up to 85% less electricity than computers in a year.
Inkjet printers designed for commercial use will consume between 300W and 500W an hour, while a commercial laser printer will use up to 1,000W an hour. A home inkjet printer will consume between 30W and 50W an hour, and a home laser printer will use between 300W and 550W an hour. Both will use considerably less when left on standby.
To reduce the amount of electricity consumed by computers and printers when not in use, you can unplug them or use a power strip to cut all power to the appliance. You can also take advantage of built-in energy-saving features such as switching your computer to energy-saving mode during the night when you don't need the backlight to be as bright.
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Frequently asked questions
Some common appliances that use electricity when turned off include cable boxes, Apple TVs, Xbox consoles, alarm clocks, coffee machines, microwaves, and routers.
The amount of electricity consumed by appliances when turned off can vary. Some devices, such as chargers, alarm clocks, and routers, may use a small amount of power, while others, such as TVs, computers, and air conditioners, can consume more significant amounts of energy.
This phenomenon is known as "phantom energy" or "vampire energy." Appliances with built-in clocks, timers, or LED displays require power to maintain their settings and time even when turned off. Additionally, devices with remote control functionality need to constantly draw power to be ready to receive a signal from the remote.
To reduce electricity consumption, you can unplug devices that are not in use, especially those that are used less frequently. You can also look for energy-efficient appliances with the Energy Star label, which certifies that they do not draw phantom power. Smart plugs can also help control the power flow to multiple devices, allowing you to shut off power completely when not in use.
