The average UK household has 10 items all left plugged in at any one time – from laptops to game consoles – despite them not even being in use, according to new data
As energy bills continue to skyrocket, we’re all trying our best to keep costs down.
The usual tactics of lowering the heating by a few degrees, switching to energy-saving bulbs and turning off lights when not in use are all well-known. But have you considered how much power your gadgets consume in standby mode? Leaving appliances on standby could be far more expensive than you might think, as new data reveals. Research from electricity and gas supplier Utilita shows that the average UK household has 10 items plugged in at any given time, even if they are not in use.
The biggest culprits are predictably games consoles and TVs, which can add a significant amount to your energy bills by year’s end. The most expensive appliances to leave on standby are Xbox and PlayStation (Xbox One, Xbox Series X and PS4 and PS5). While they’re always fun to play, the cost of running a games console becomes significantly less enjoyable when you realise just how much they could add to your energy bill by the end of the year. According to Utilita, a PS4 costs 2.41p per hour played, and an Xbox One costs 2.22p – this is because they use 130 and 120 watts respectively when in use, reports the Express. When left on standby, the consoles still use 10 watts, meaning even when not in use they’re costing 0.18p per hour. While this may seem insignificant, it adds up to 4.45p a day, equating to £16.24 a year.
The Xbox One’s quick start standby mode consumes more energy than a full shutdown, while a fully shut down PS4 uses virtually no power as it’s completely off. The more recently released Xbox Series X and PS5 are slightly more power-hungry due to their enhanced capabilities. On average, the PS5 uses about 200w, but this can drop to between 100-150w depending on the game. Therefore, the PS5 will cost more to run than a PS4, but not significantly so. The best practice is to fully shut down the console when not in use, rather than leaving it on standby. If you have a top-of-the-range gaming PC, the costs could be much higher.
The bigger the TV, the bigger the bill
TVs these days often switch to standby mode without us realising. Unlike older models where ‘off’ meant ‘off’, most modern TVs can’t be switched off without being unplugged or turned off at the wall. This means that unless your TV is unplugged or completely switched off at the wall, it’s likely costing you throughout the year. According to Utilita, a TV uses 40 watts of energy while in use, but like the consoles, it uses 10 watts when on standby.
This means that five hours of viewing costs around 3.7p, but even if it’s left untouched all day but in standby, you’re still paying 4.45p a day. Over the year, this adds up to £16.24. The size of your TV can significantly impact your energy bills – for instance, a 65″ TV is 50% larger than a 55″ TV, meaning it’ll cost you more to run. When buying a TV, look out for its energy use information, such as ‘180kwh’, which indicates that in this example, the TV uses 180kw per hour. This means it would consume one unit of power (1,000kw) in just five hours. With the price cap set to increase, one unit will soon cost around 28p – so watching TV for five hours could cost you approximately £1.40.
Printers – the forgotten expense
Printers are often forgotten about when not in use, but they’re third on the list for standby costs. A printer uses about 40 watts of energy when active and continues to consume four watts even on standby. By the end of the day, this adds up to 1.78p, which over a year amounts to an unnecessary £6.50 added to your energy bills.
When it comes to baby monitors, every parent knows raising a child isn’t cheap. While essential during sleep times, consider turning off the baby monitor when your baby is awake and with you. On average, a baby monitor uses about 15 watts of energy when in use and three watts on standby, adding an extra £4.87 to your annual energy bill.
With the shift towards home and hybrid working, laptops have become indispensable. However, their constant use also contributes to energy consumption. Utilita has revealed that running a laptop for five hours will cost approximately 6.95p, as the device uses about 75 watts of energy.
It’s advised to unplug your laptop once it’s fully charged and switch it off when you’re done, rather than just closing the lid. Although the device only uses around three watts of energy in standby mode, leaving it on idle can cost an additional 1.33p a day, which adds up to £4.87 over a year.
Smart speakers are incredibly useful at home, allowing you to check the time, set alarms, check the weather, and stream music. While in use, a smart speaker only needs about three watts of energy, but on standby, this barely changes, dropping to three watts. This means it can add an extra £3.45 to your bill annually – and that’s just per speaker.