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The ‘vampire devices’ costing UK households an extra £147 a year
An energy expert has offered some tips on how to cut back on annual electricity costs
Households across the UK have been warned about so-called vampire devices adding an average of £147 to annual electricity bills.
According to British Gas, these vampire devices are adding even more money onto the annual electricity bills of millions of UK households, with them reportedly equating to two months’ electricity charges over the year.
This is because so long as they are plugged in, these devices continue to draw a small amount of energy, which eventually adds up over time.
These devices include televisions, laptops, broadband routers and smart speakers.
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While it may be convenient to leave the television on standby and wake it up with the remote, it is costing the average household an extra £24.61 per year, Energy UK suggests, plus a further £23.10 a year for a set-top box, such as from Sky or Virgin Media.
Games consoles on standby work out at an average of £12.17, while computers could cost about £11.22.
Other devices that can add up over the year are:
- Hi-Fi system on standby – £73
- Sky box on standby – £73
- Laptop charger – £60
- TV on standby – £10 to £24
- Microwave – £16
- Games consoles – £12
- Computer – £11
- Printer on standby – £3 to £10
- Washing machine – £5
- Phone charger – £1.26
British Gas energy expert Marc Robson has recommended adding devices to an extension lead that can be switched off in one go at night, or using smart plugs.
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He explained: “There are smart plugs you can buy which will let you check everything is turned off from your phone.
“At night, or when not in use, try switching off devices at the mains rather than switching to standby, as even the standby light on a television uses energy.
“Try not to overcharge your mobile phone and laptop unnecessarily. As soon as your device is charged, try and get into the habit of unplugging it. Not only will this save energy but it also prolongs battery life.
“A smart meter’s in-home display can help to identify how much energy is used at different times of the day, so you can see where energy is wasted.”