Reducing My Electric Bill by Unplugging 7 Devices Surprised Me

Rising living costs are a concern across the United States, with energy expenses particularly noticeable due to remarkably high summer temperatures affecting numerous states. As someone dealing with these ongoing heatwaves, I constantly seek methods to lower my energy consumption.

There are various strategies to help cut down on your energy bills each month beyond the usual habit of turning lights off when you leave a room. Interestingly, you can actually save approximately 3% for each degree you lower your thermostat setting. As an admirer of data-driven approaches, I have ventured into investigating numerous means to conserve energy, relating them to potential savings.

Unplugging a single gadget may not significantly decrease your expenses, but regularly disconnecting several devices can result in sizeable savings. Here’s a list of electronics you should disconnect when idle, potentially saving around $200 annually, depending on your regional rates.

Electronics in Entertainment and Workspace

People often neglect to unplug their televisions that aren't utilized daily, especially those in seldom-visited rooms like guest spaces. Disconnecting these TVs when unused can save $2 to $6 annually for each one. Prompted by this information, I immediately unplugged the TVs in my guest room and workspace.

Similarly, leaving printers plugged in can cost you between $3 and $8 yearly if they sit idle, with power usage ranging from 2W to 6W.

Video game consoles can consume 1.5W to 10W when not in use, costing up to a dollar monthly if left in standby mode. It’s wise to disconnect them when not needed, like when you're out or overnight, though you might prefer keeping them in rest mode to avoid missing updates.

Consider unplugging audio equipment such as sound bars and speakers in rooms where usage is infrequent.

Kitchen Appliances and Coffee Makers

I learned a difficult lesson when I noticed my coffee maker was inflating my electricity expense. Keeping it in standby mode, always ready to brew, consumes 60W to 70W, potentially adding up to $60 annually as it maintains warm water for brewing.

Moreover, operational costs for a mini-fridge could reach $130 annually. It's financially unsound if not constantly needed. Mine often ran empty, consuming 50-100W and wasting money. In cases where such a fridge is used seasonally, like in a summer sunroom, unplugging it when not needed could save you over $10 monthly.

Idle Smart Home Gadgets

Although smart home devices promise efficiency, they can also be 'phantom power' culprits by perpetually consuming electricity to maintain connectivity. Nonetheless, their power draw is typically low, so urgent disconnection isn't necessary.

Smart bulbs and plugs, for instance, use about 1W consistently, costing up to $1.30 yearly based on local rates. Multiply this by several such devices for noticeable costs, especially if seldom used.

In my home, I turn off unused smart bulbs and carefully unplug smart plugs when not actively powering devices.

Utilizing smart plugs can be frugal, like automating a traditional coffee maker without a timer or managing peripheral devices efficiently. I apply them to control plant grow lights, fans, and older lamps.

Retired Gadgets Around Your Place

Old electronics people may forget to unplug—such as cable boxes, DVRs, or Blu-ray players—could still cost you up to $20 annually while idle, depending on regional pricing.

Evaluate which unnecessary devices remain tethered to power—like old alarm clocks or phone chargers. Disconnect such items until actually needed, saving incremental amounts that add up monthly.

Practical Utility Saving Tips

Your utility expenses can be further minimized by adopting these measures. Devices drawing 'phantom power' are aptly deemed 'vampire devices.' The goal is to unplug these when inactive, potentially saving 10% off your energy usage—an impressive return for minimal effort.

Does Disconnecting Matter?

Unplugging household devices could significantly reduce energy usage, double-checking appliances like your coffee machine that sneakily increase the bill. Even non-active electronics consume energy.

To keep my home efficient, especially during frequent power outages, I habitually disconnect non-essential devices. Equipped with a whole-home backup grid, EcoFlow's Smart Home Panel helps me monitor and manage electricity consumption in real time.

During outages, non-critical circuits are disabled. For instance, if my house consumes 1.2kWh, unplugging unused devices can halve this usage, prolonging backup battery life.