Modern homes are equipped with a wide variety of appliances and devices that rely on a direct source of electricity. Among them are several known as “energy vampires” because they consume electricity even when they aren’t being used, such as the always-on clock display for a microwave or stove.
According to the National Resources Defense Council, these appliances could cost homes as much as $1.30 to $2.60 in annual electricity costs for every watt of always-on load. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory notes that this works out to about $200 per year in unnecessary energy expenses for the average home.
Use this guide to discover 7 appliance types that are the biggest household energy vampires and how to reduce your electricity consumption to save on monthly energy bills.
Bruce Stewart is president and CEO of Perch Energy, a community solar company.
How Appliances Consume Energy When Not in Use
Electronic appliances and devices use power when they are on and being used, but energy vampires continue to drain energy even when they are not in use.
“There are a range of reasons why energy vampires use power even when not in use, including continuous displays such as oven and microwave screens, continuous temperature monitoring, needing to receive a signal for TVs and remotes, or light-activated devices such as automatic night lights,” says Bruce Stewart, president and CEO of Perch Energy.
If you are unsure whether your appliance or device drains energy when not in use, check this list of common signs that your device or appliance is an energy vampire.
- The device has a continuous display that stays on all the time, like a dishwasher, microwave, or oven.
- The device has an internal clock it uses to tell the time, like a coffeemaker or computer.
- The device constantly monitors temperature or humidity, like a refrigerator, humidifier, or thermostat.
- The device is capable of receiving signals even when it is off, like a TV, gaming console, or Bluetooth-enabled electronics.
- The device has an automatic activation function, like a light-sensing night light or motion-detecting security camera.
The 7 Biggest Energy Vampires
1. TVs and Video Game Consoles
Entertainment devices like televisions and video game consoles use power just by being plugged in. These devices are designed to receive signals from remotes, controllers, wireless speakers, headphones, Bluetooth devices, Wi-Fi, and more. When turned off, the TV or video game console remains in standby mode so it can receive any incoming signals.
Unplugging these electronics when not in use is the best way to cut down on energy waste.
2. Microwaves, Coffeemakers, and Other Small Kitchen Appliances
Kitchens are often full of small appliances designed to make life easier, such as microwaves, coffeemakers, electric kettles, toasters, air fryers, and slow cookers. While each of these appliances uses only a small amount of electricity to power a digital display or internal clock, together, the amount of energy that is needlessly consumed can add up.
Reduce wasted energy by investing in basic appliances without electronic timers or displays, such as old-school toasters and stovetop kettles.
3. Thermostat and HVAC Equipment
The thermostat, air conditioner, furnace, and water heater require a significant amount of energy to function. However, it isn’t usually possible to turn off these appliances without drastically affecting home comfort.
To reduce wasted energy, invest in energy-efficient HVAC equipment and install a smart thermostat to help you avoid using more power than necessary.
4. Computers
Computers are a big part of daily life for many people. They are used for entertainment, school, careers, communication, and more, so going without a computer isn’t the best option. However, computer chargers constantly draw and convert energy for the device, even if the computer isn’t on. Similarly, computers often have a standby mode that allows them to receive signals from controllers, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth devices.
Properly shutting down the computer and unplugging the charger eliminates wasted energy while protecting the computer and all contained information from potential hackers.
5. Freezers and Refrigerators
Storing food until it is ready to be eaten is essential for any functional household. Typically, freezers and refrigerators store food and beverages for long periods, but the necessity of always keeping the freezer and refrigerator turned on leads to a significant amount of energy waste. Unfortunately, this situation cannot be remedied without having an unwelcome effect on your food-storage capabilities.
If you have an upcoming vacation planned, it’s a good idea to use any food in your refrigerator and freezer and then unplug this appliance until you return.
6. Electric Oven
Like a microwave or coffeemaker, electric ovens typically have a built-in clock and digital display to control the appliance. While unplugging the oven prevents unnecessary energy waste, it can be a hassle to pull it out to reach the plug.
Instead, reduce the amount of energy the oven uses when it’s on by batch-cooking meals for the week, so you minimize the number of times the oven is in use. Similarly, after using the oven, leave the oven door open during the colder months of the year to make the most of the excess heat.
7. Phones, Tablets, and Chargers
Phones and tablets are in constant use both inside and outside the home, so it should come as no surprise that these little devices eat up a lot of energy. Typically, they only require two or three hours to charge the battery fully, but they are regularly left to charge overnight. This means that the chargers continue to draw AC power from the home and then work to convert that power to DC, all to provide energy for a device that is already fully charged.
Chargers continue to draw energy even if the phone or tablet is not plugged in, so the best way to cut down on energy waste is to unplug the charger whenever possible and to limit charging time to when you are awake and aware enough to disconnect the device when the battery is full.
How to Reduce Energy Waste
After identifying the energy vampires in your household, you can take steps to mitigate energy drain and reduce the cost of your energy bills. For instance, Stewart suggests a “low effort way to reduce energy bills—alongside exorcising energy vampires—is for homeowners and renters alike to enroll in community solar and save between 5 and 15 percent off annual electricity bills.” Consider these other great methods for reducing household energy waste.
- Connect appliances and devices to an easy-to-access power strip that can be unplugged when the connected electronics are not in use.
- Unplug chargers from the outlet to prevent them from continually converting AC to DC power, even when the battery is fully charged or the device is unplugged.
- Disconnect major appliances when you are going to be away for a week or more.
- Invest in items without a clock or digital display.
- Choose energy-efficient appliances and devices to reduce the average electricity use for the home.
- Consider purchasing items that don’t drain power when not in use, like regular lamps, classic toasters, stovetop kettles, and LED light bulbs.
- Make sure all appliances and devices are working correctly to prevent energy waste.
- Have a home energy audit conducted to identify any problem areas.
