Does unplugging your charger or other devices from the power save money? If so, how much? Find out how much you can save
Is your electricity bill too expensive? There are many ways to save money, some of which don’t involve much inconvenience or sacrifice. Many people, for example, unplug power outlets whenever they are not using a device or appliance. Thus avoiding the famous “phantom charge”.
Although few people know about this phenomenon, it is something that actually happens every day. When you leave electronic devices plugged in, in fact, they continue to “power up” even if they are turned off. Think of the red LEDs on TVs that are constantly on, or the operating lights on DVD players, microwaves and coffee machines. In all of these cases, and many more, devices continue to be powered for various reasons, consuming a very small amount of electricity on an ongoing basis. Some tricks allow you to put a stop to this consumption and save on your electricity bill.
Why is it better to disconnect devices from the power?
As I said, most electronic devices consume energy even in stand-by mode or when left off but still connected to the power. Some consume more than others, which is why it is better to always unplug them to notice a saving in the bill. We are talking about cell phone chargers, printers, DVD players, microwave ovens, but also power strips, which should be equipped with a main switch.
This is because energy is needed to keep in memory the settings saved by the user. For example, microwaves and DVD players will need it to keep showing the time (if equipped with LEDs), while printers and TVs will need it to keep the status LED on. In short, functionality that’s not exactly necessary.
How much does phantom charging cost us?
As long as this type of consumption exists, let’s see how much we could save by unplugging devices whenever they’re not in use. The U.S. Department of Energy has calculated this figure, stating that phantom charging costs each American household about $100 per year, which corresponds to about €90. This means that by unplugging chargers and the like, you can save about €8 per month. According to other tests, the savings on your electricity bill could be even lower.
However, if you’re a home automation enthusiast and have a high-tech home with dozens of permanently connected devices, do a test and try using power strips with a switch. You may notice a small savings in your bills right away.
Is your bill too expensive? Here’s who’s to blame
If your bill is objectively high, it’s definitely not the fault of the devices connected to the electricity. You have to look for the cause in other bad habits: using an electric water heater or keeping the lights on when you’re not in a room or even relying on high-consumption light bulbs and so on.
Try to find alternative solutions to make your home efficient, for example by using class A+++ appliances or low-consumption light bulbs. These choices, in addition to being more environmentally sustainable, will provide you with a lighter utility bill.