UK households are being urged to switch off and unplug game consoles from Thursday as energy prices rise and the colder months approach. The advice, shared by Martin Lewis' Money Saving Expert site, comes from energy supplier British Gas and targets three key 'vampire power' devices.
What is 'vampire power'?
According to Money Saving Expert, chargers and other appliances still use electricity when plugged in, even when not in use. Other devices, namely games consoles, laptops and TVs, also draw power when plugged into a switched-on socket, the site says.
British Gas says that a fourth appliance, kettles, can also save money when switched off. The supplier states: "British Gas says that chargers and appliances will still use electricity when left in sockets – so it's important to turn them off at the plug when you're not using them."
How much can you save?
British Gas adds: "A lot of devices, such as games consoles, laptops and TVs, draw small amounts of power when not in use but still plugged in and turned on at the socket. This is sometimes known as 'vampire power'. You can easily avoid using this standby power by switching devices off at the wall."
The Energy Saving Trust says you can save about £45 a year by turning off appliances at the plug when not in use, according to the article.
Energy bills on the rise
The reminder comes as energy prices increased again on October 1, with temperatures already plunging. British Gas, on its energy saving tips website, says: "Switching electronics off instead of leaving them on standby can save you up to £55 a year."
"Small changes to how you use electricity can add up. Unplugging appliances like kettles and other appliances instead of leaving them on standby are good habits to get into and every little counts towards lower energy bills."
