Save £80 a year on your energy bill by unplugging 3 devices at night

Energy bills have seen wild fluctuations over the past two years. While they're not quite at the record peaks of late 2023 and early 2024, they remain steep and many households still dread opening their bills.

A common oversight that could be stopping households from maximising their energy savings is the habit of leaving home appliances on standby. Certain devices continue to draw power even when not actively in use if they're left plugged in, with some offenders worse than others. Eclipse Energy specialists have pinpointed three appliances that should "never be left on standby mode".

Here, "standby" means keeping appliances plugged in with the socket still on.

They advise: "By turning off these appliances completely instead of leaving them on standby, you can reduce your energy bills significantly as well as your carbon footprint."

Energy sucking devices to turn off and save money

1. Televisions

Televisions can use up to 20 watts of energy while on standby mode, and while this doesn't sound like much, it soon adds up over time.

Echoing tips from The Energy Saving Trust, the specialists say: "If you switch off your TV completely when you're not using it, you could save around £30 per year on your energy bill."

2. Satellite TV boxes

Certain set-top boxes may consume as much as 30 watts of energy when left in standby mode.

To cut down on energy usage, remember to turn off your set-top box when it's not needed. By doing so, "you could save around £20 per year on your energy bill", claim the energy gurus.

3. Game consoles

Certain devices can consume up to 45 watts of energy when left on standby.

If your game console is not in use, ensure it's switched off entirely or disconnected from the wall. By doing so, "you could save around £30 per year on your energy bill", according to the Eclipse team.