Slash High Electric Bills: The Key to Savings This Winter

Trying to keep your utility bills low isn’t easy at the best of times, but it can be much more difficult during the holidays when you’re home more often than usual. Whether you’re hosting holiday parties for the whole family or everyone is just home from school and work for the week between Christmas and New Years, your December energy bill can skyrocket. According to a recent CNET investigation80% of adults are already stressed about utility bills, but the culprit behind your sky-high electricity bill might be surprising.

You might think your TV, coffee maker, and games console are completely turned off, but you’d be wrong. Even if the power switch is off, if they are plugged in, they still silently draw power 24/7. It’s called “phantom charging,” and these little energy vampires add a very real, very stupid cost to your bill every month.

But is the effort of unplugging them really worth it? We’ll break down exactly how much money you can save by doing this. Plus, we have a few other simple tips for your thermostat and laundry that you’re probably getting wrong too.

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Can unplugging appliances really save me money?

It may seem counterintuitive to unplug your appliances. After all, they’re gone, so why would they suck energy?

The fact is, appliances still use energy even when they’re turned off but still plugged in, according to Energy.gov. Whether the device is off or in sleep mode, some of the worst offenders are:

• A device that may still consume power in the form of lights or other displays indicating that the device is turned off.
• Desktop computers put into sleep mode instead of being turned off.
• Chargers that still consume power even if the device is not connected.
• Media players that continually consume power, especially those that may still be checking for updates in the background.
• Phones with screens that display when not in use, such as cordless phones.
• New smart appliances like refrigerators, washers and dryers with always-on screens, internet connectivity and electronic controls.

Reduce your standby consumption to save electricity and money

Many people are shocked to realize how much standby power consumption can add up. Standby energy accounts for 5 to 10 percent of residential energy consumption, according to the Department of Energy.

How much you save may depend on how many devices you use and your habits with them. For example, a Colorado State University educational experiment found that a combined radio/CD player/cassette player consumed 4 watts continuously regardless of whether it was in use. Unplugging it when not in use would save 100 times more energy over the life of the device.

A study published by the Natural Resources Defense Council (PDF) found that reducing the load of always-on devices would save consumers a total of $8 billion per year and avoid consuming 64 billion kilowatt hours of electricity per year. It also has environmental benefits, such as preventing 44 million tons of carbon dioxide pollution. The NRDC estimated the cost of always-on devices at $165 per household per year on average.

Purchasing a smart plug can help you save energy by controlling power to virtually any device you plug in. This Leviton outlet is CNET’s top pick.

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How can I optimize my standby consumption?

The first step, of course, is to unplug anything that isn’t actively used or isn’t used often. Devices that could easily be unplugged include in-room televisions and set-top boxes. It’s also usually easy to unplug media players when not in use, such as a radio or CD player. When you remove your device from its charger, it can help you get into the habit of unplugging that charger as well. You might also be surprised how many devices we have plugged in that we don’t even use anymore. For example, old cordless phones, old media players or lamps that are more decorative than functional.

Unplugging and plugging everything back in can become tedious, especially if your outlets are in hard-to-reach places. If the point of sale is inaccessible, it will be difficult to keep up.

Instead, you can also define ways to make the phantom load removal process more automatic. You can plug devices into surge protectors. This way, a single press of a power button can turn off multiple devices. You can also get timers for plugging in devices or smart plugs so you can automate when power is connected to a device. For example, you can set the TV’s power time so that it is only connected during peak hours, such as evenings or weekends.

Investing in a smart thermostat capable of maintaining the comfort of your room while optimizing electricity consumption is a good investment to save money in the long term. Likewise, installing LED bulbs is an excellent investment that uses much less energy than incandescent bulbs. Even though the initial down payment may seem high, the savings accumulate over the years.

You may also want to consider getting Energy Star products. Many of these products are rated to have lower standby power consumption than products that are not rated by Energy Star.

Find additional resources to save electricity

As electricity bills become higher and more irregular over time, it is more vital than ever to find ways to save on electricity costs. For example, in addition to unplugging home appliances, you can check out our guide on turning off lights when not in use. Another key way to improve your electricity and heating bill is to know the ideal temperature you should set for your home. You can also check out our guide to quick tips for saving on your gas and electric bill, like lowering your water heater or changing your air filters.

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