Yes, I have become my dad, running around the house, shutting off lights, and asking if people were born in a barn when they leave doors open and let all that expensively warmed air out into the cold night. But it turns out, my focus may be all wrong. I might be much better off unplugging a few key items that draw a lot of power, even when you’re not using them—along with appliances that are just patently unsafe when they’re left plugged in and unattended. Unplugging key electronics and appliances can also help protect them from electrical surges, which can shorten their lifespans.
Ready to save money and make your home a little safer? Take a minute to unplug these energy vampires and home hazards.
“Energy vampires,” or plugged-in items that aren’t currently being used, make up about 23% of a home’s electricity use, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
Space Heaters
You probably understand exactly why space heaters top the list of things to unplug when they’re not in use—as space heaters are responsible for about 10,000 house fires per year, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
As far as power usage, space heaters that have smart digital timers or temperature sensors will draw power when the space heater isn’t actually turned on but is still plugged in. Bottom line: It’s best to unplug your space heater entirely when it’s not in use.
Space heaters draw a lot of power when they are running, so plugging them on a power strip or extension cord increases the fire risk—and is a definite no-no. Space heaters may use more energy than the wattage recommended for that power strip, causing it to melt or short.
Hair Dryers and Hair Styling Tools
Generally, hair dryers, curling irons, or straighteners won’t use energy when they’re turned off and not in use. But because of the heating elements and the fact that these styling tools are commonly used in a very wet environment (aka your bathroom), it’s best to unplug them when you’re not using them to reduce the risk of fires or electrical shock.
TVs
TVs need to draw power so that they can be ready to go the second you click your remote. But the amount of energy that TVs use to be binge-watch-ready depends on the brand, with some using just 2 watts up to 54 watts, according to the NRDC.
It may be worth pulling the plug—especially on TVs that aren’t used on a daily basis.
Heated Towel Warmers
The luxury of a hot towel is nice, but that heating element can use up to 140 watts of power if left plugged in—and some models don’t have an on/off switch. (And of course, as a heat-producing product, towel warmers also present a potential fire hazard.)
Video Game Consoles and Set-Top Boxes
Set-top boxes were one of the biggest energy vampires in an NRDC study, and video game consoles also draw wattage when they’re in sleep mode. If you have a smart TV, you may be able to bypass the set-top box altogether and connect to your streaming services and channels via the TV itself.
Home Office Equipment
That home printer left on standby mode for those occasional printing jobs? It’s using way more energy than is necessary—and that goes for the shredder, too. Unplug these items until you’re ready to use them.
Kitchen Appliances With Timers and Clocks
Whether it’s a programmable coffee maker that has your brew ready to go right on schedule or the microwave that’s showing the time, any kitchen appliance that has a digital display is drawing power when you aren’t using it. If you aren’t using those features, they are good candidates to unplug.
Computers
Putting computers into sleep mode helps with energy usage, but your laptops and desktops are still drawing energy when they’re plugged in and turned on. While you may not have to go through the trouble of unplugging it completely, shutting it down overnight or when you’ll be away for an extended period of time can help you reduce your energy usage. A desktop computer, for example, can use between 1 to 49 watts of power when idle over a 24-hour period—which can add up to $50 to your electric bill, according to the NRDC.
Bonus: Turning your computer completely off when you’re not using it enables the RAM to clear, improving your computer’s performance—and helps protect the delicate electronics from electrical surges.
Tips to Make Reducing Your Energy Usage Easier
Focus on energy vampires that you use less frequently
If your gaming sessions are few and far between, you have a rarely used TV in a guest bedroom, or a printer you only use occasionally, focus on keeping those unplugged, rather than the items that you turn on multiple times per day.
Ensure that the plugs are easy to reach
If you have to sneak behind the sofa or bed to pull the plug, you’re not going to be doing that every time you want to snuggle in for a binge-watching night.
Place multiple items on a surge protector
You might want to group the TV, video game console, and other energy vampires on a single surge protector so you only have to unplug one item instead of several. (Just remember that some items, like the space heater, cannot be plugged into a surge protector for fire safety.)
Consider upgrading to a smart surge protector, which can allow you to shut off individual items plugged into your protector without shutting off everything. Some even monitor energy usage for each item plugged into it, so you can see which appliances or electronics are the biggest energy vampires.
Create a charging station
Set up charging stations to charge all of your family’s smartphones, smartwatches, and laptops. That way, you can easily unplug them (or the surge protector) when they’re not in use. Smartphone and laptop chargers use only small amounts of electricity when an item isn’t actively charging—but multiply it over several chargers in your home, and it can add up.
Some independent tests have found that off-brand chargers use significantly more energy when idle than brand-name ones, so you may want to be more conscious of unplugging a generic charger.
Look for any “eco-friendly” or “energy-saving” settings
Game consoles, computers, and TVs often have energy-saving settings that will put the item into sleep mode if it hasn’t been used for a certain amount of time. You can set those to put these electronics into standby mode faster, or shut off any “quick start” settings that could be jacking up your electricity bill.
Review an appliance’s energy usage when it’s time to replace something
If your TV goes on the fritz, you may want to research a model’s energy usage and look for products with an ENERGY STAR rating that may use less power when left in standby mode. In general, older models of TVs, computers, and other electronics are more likely to use more power than newer models.
This is a good idea for all of your appliances, including ones that need to be always on (like your fridge) or that tend to use a lot of energy (like washing machines, dishwashers, and other major appliances).
