Households could be spending more than £200 a year on electricity simply by leaving everyday devices on standby, according to new research. Quotezone.co.uk has identified 13 “vampire appliances” commonly left plugged in, with a combined yearly cost of approximately £213 under the new energy price cap of 26.32p per kWh introduced this month.
A survey of 1,000 Brits by Quotezone.co.uk found that around half (51%) rarely or never switch larger appliances off at the plug. The research indicates households waste between 5% and 16% of their energy through standby power.
Which appliances cost the most on standby
Wi-Fi routers top the list at £34.80 a year, although they are designed to stay on to maintain an internet connection. Switching them off when a property is unoccupied for several days could help reduce unnecessary energy use. Televisions are the second most costly, setting households back £32.70 a year, followed by set-top boxes at £26.70.
Microwaves add an estimated £23.20 a year through their clocks and sensors, while games consoles cost £17.20 as they remain connected for updates and downloads. At the lower end, laptops and coffee machines carry a relatively modest annual standby cost, but they are potentially used across a greater number of households given the rise in working from home since the pandemic.
Simple steps to cut standby waste
Helen Rolph, energy savings expert at Quotezone.co.uk, said: “Our survey found that 51% rarely or never switch larger appliances off at the plug, potentially meaning around half of UK households could be wasting energy without realising it. Standby mode is easy to forget because it's quietly ticking away in the background, but with the price cap rising by 4% this month, it all adds up. Switching off at the wall is one of the simplest ways to cut bills.”
In the kitchen, the dishwasher, washing machine and tumble dryer drain £23.40 a year when not in use. Some devices, like routers, are designed to stay on, but others, like TVs, games consoles and microwaves, can safely be switched off when not in use.
Rolph added: “It's also worth checking for 'instant on' modes too, as these keep devices in a power-hungry state all day Adding a 'switch off' policy before bed to include a few additional appliances may seem like a small step but it could lead to substantial savings in the long run and help take the pressure off other household bills.”
The 13 appliances and their annual standby costs
- Wi-Fi router - £34.80 a year. Built to stay on, but worth switching off if you're away for several days.
- Television - £32.70 a year. Even when the screen is dark, TVs keep drawing power for remote and update functions.
- Set-top box - £26.70 a year. Boxes stay in a ready state for recordings and updates.
- Microwave - £23.20 a year. The clock and sensors run all day and consume energy unnecessarily.
- Games console - £17.20 a year. Consoles in standby can stay connected for updates and downloads.
- Computer - £15.80 a year. Fully shutting down the computer at the end of the working day can help cut unnecessary consumption.
- Smart speakers and smart home devices - £13.90 a year. They're always listening, so always drawing power.
- Electric shower - £12.60 a year. The control unit keeps drawing power between showers, they normally have a pull-chord in the bathroom to switch them off completely when not in use.
- Dishwasher - £9.80 a year. Once the washing cycle has finished, leaving the dishwasher on standby can contribute to unnecessary energy use, so switch it off when it's not being used.
- Laptop - £7.32 a year. With work from home still a popular choice, laptops may be left on standby overnight and all weekend long, wasting energy.
- Tumble dryer - £6.80 a year. While it doesn't cost a lot to leave your tumble dryer on standby, it's a cost you can easily avoid.
- Washing machine - £6.80 a year. Same as the dryer, getting into the habit of switching off daily could help build savings.
- Coffee machine - £5.70 a year. With more people installing home offices, the coffee pot could potentially be left on standby throughout the working week.
