Households are being warned about the "vampire appliances" lurking in their homes, as new research shows everyday devices left on standby could add more than £200 annually to energy bills. Specialists at Quotezone.co.uk have identified 13 costly appliances that Britons typically leave plugged in, as the energy price cap rises to 26.32p per kWh this month.
A survey by Quotezone.co.uk of 1,000 Britons discovered that approximately half (51%) seldom or never turn larger appliances off at the socket - with research indicating households squander between 5% and 16% of their energy through standby power.
Costly culprits: Wi-Fi routers and TVs
Wi-Fi routers lead the list at £34.80 annually and, while they are intended to remain on to sustain an internet connection, turning them off when a property is unoccupied for multiple days could help cut down on needless energy consumption. Televisions rank as the second most costly appliance to leave on standby, adding £32.70 per year, followed by set-top boxes at £26.70.
Microwaves also accumulate costs, with their clocks and sensors contributing an estimated £23.20 annually, while games consoles cost £17.20 as they stay connected for updates and downloads. At the opposite end of the scale, laptops and coffee machines carry a relatively modest annual standby cost, yet they are potentially found in a greater number of homes owing to the surge in working from home since the pandemic.
Combined annual cost reaches £213
While these individual costs may be small, the research accounts for items commonly found across UK households, with the combined annual expenditure across all 13 appliances amounting to approximately £213 based on the current 26.32p per kWh price cap.
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."
Rolph added: "When it comes to household chores, there are easy wins in the kitchen, with the dishwasher, washing machine and tumble dryer needlessly draining £23.40 a year when not in use, money that could be better spent elsewhere. 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.
"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."
Full list of 13 'vampire appliances'
- 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.
