This article is part of a series on saving money on electricity.
This is the final post in our series on cutting household electricity costs.
The last area to tackle is standby power — the small but constant draw from devices that are switched off but still plugged in.
Although standby power is often the smallest portion of household consumption, it’s one of the easiest wastes to eliminate. In many cases the solution is as simple as flicking a switch.
Standby power typically makes up about 3% to 10% of a household’s total electricity use. Using an example average Australian daily consumption of 20 kWh, removing standby loads could reduce annual use by roughly 219–730 kWh.
At 26 cents per kilowatt-hour, that equates to savings of approximately $57 to $190 a year — straightforward money you don’t need to spend.
Common electronics and appliances that draw standby power include:
- Televisions
- DVD and Blu‑ray players
- Gaming consoles
- Audio systems
- Set‑top boxes and pay‑TV receivers
- Desktops and laptops
- Peripherals such as printers and speakers
- Mobile phone chargers
- Washing machines
- Clothes dryers
- Dishwashers
- Microwaves
- Other small appliances
The rule for cutting standby consumption is straightforward:
If it isn’t being used, turn it off at the wall socket.
To make this easy, plug items you use together — for example a TV and media player — into the same power board. One switch will cut power to all devices at once. Conversely, put rarely used gear on a separate outlet so it stays off while you use other equipment.
Turning off devices at the power point stops needless energy draw and reduces your bill without changing your daily routine.
Beyond saving money, cutting standby power reduces demand on natural resources and lowers greenhouse gas emissions, so it’s a simple action with multiple benefits.
I hope you found the series on saving electricity useful and that you’ve been able to try some of the tips. Small changes add up to real savings and a smaller environmental footprint.