Energy experts have unveiled the ‘worst’ devices to leave on standby and urge households to turn them off
Households are being warned of three home appliances that you should ‘never’ leave on standby to reduce your energy bills significantly. Energy bills have fluctuated hugely over the last two years.
Despite no longer being priced at record highs witnessed at the end of 2023 and early 2024, the still remain high and less affordable for many households.
One factor that could be stopping people from saving on their energy bills is leaving certain devices on standby. Standby refers to leaving appliances plugged in with the socket switched on.
Even when not in use, some home appliances can still use up electricity if left plugged in, with some draining a lot more energy than others.
Experts at Eclipse Energy have identified three appliances that should “never be left on standby mode”. They said: “By turning off these appliances completely instead of leaving them on standby, you can reduce your energy bills significantly as well as your carbon footprint.”
1. Televisions
According to the energy experts, TVs are one of the worst appliances to leave on standby, as they can consume up to 20 watts of energy in standby mode, which can add up over time.
Based on findings from The Energy Saving Trust, the experts said: “If you switch off your TV completely when you’re not using it, you could save around £30 per year on your energy bill.”
2. Satellite TV boxes
Satellite boxes such as Sky or Virgin Media boxes can also consume a “significant amount” of energy when left on standby. Some set-top boxes can use up to 30 watts of energy.
To reduce your energy consumption, you should switch off your set-top box when you’re not using it. By doing this, the experts say you could save around £20 per year on your energy bill.
3. Game consoles
Game consoles are another “big culprit”. While high-powered gaming consoles come with energy-saving features, they also have their downsides when left on standby.
Some of these devices can use up to 45 watts of energy when left plugged in, the experts say.
If you’re not using your game console, make sure to switch it off completely or unplug it from the wall. By doing this, they say “you could save around £30 per year on your energy bill.”