New research has revealed that leaving common household appliances on standby could be adding hundreds to annual energy bills. According to experts, these energy-guzzling appliances could be costing the average household up to £630 a year, and they've unveiled the top ten standby culprits to watch out for.
Despite the cost of living crisis, many Brits continue to leave devices on standby overnight, with a survey from Quotezone.co.uk showing 58% of Brits confessed to leaving electrical items switched on. Over a third (34%) also admitted they didn't realise they could be losing more than £100 a year due to devices left on standby.
The study discovered that up to 30% of a home's electricity bill can come from appliances left plugged in but unused. The worst culprits for standby consumption include faulty set-top box recorders, outside lights left on all night and extra fridges that can cost more than £100 each annually. Easy-to-overlook appliances like electric towel rails, desktop computers, digital TV boxes and multi-room speakers are also silently accumulating costs around the clock.
Helen Rolph, energy savings expert at Quotezone.co.uk, said: "It's worrying that nearly six in 10 people still leave their appliances on standby, especially when this could be costing households hundreds of pounds per year. Our research shows that a third of Brits don't realise just how much money they could save by unplugging unused devices. With energy prices still high and many families looking for ways to cut costs, turning appliances fully off is one of the simplest and most effective steps you can take."
Turning them off when not in use or at bedtime - around 10pm for most of us - can make a significant difference. Older or faulty set-top box recorders, outdoor lighting left on overnight, and spare fridges in garages are among the biggest energy drains. Desktop computers, electric towel rails, digital TV boxes, multi-room speakers, and routers also contribute to the 'phantom load'.
