Eight Appliances to Check for Standby Electricity Use

At a glance

  • Some equipment uses electricity while waiting, maintaining a network connection or keeping a feature ready.
  • The amount varies by model, settings and operating mode; being plugged in does not prove a large waste.
  • Measure or check specifications, then compare the likely saving with any useful function you would lose.
  • Keep refrigeration, medical, safety and other essential equipment operating as required.

“Vampire appliance” is an informal term for equipment that draws electricity when it appears inactive. It can be a useful reminder to check standby settings, but it is not a technical category or proof that every plugged-in device is wasting substantial energy.

Energy Saving Trust explains switching off standby loads and the need to check equipment instructions and exceptions. Start with the devices and settings you actually have.

On this page

Eight types of equipment to check

1. Televisions, streaming devices and set-top boxes

A television screen can be off while connected devices remain active. Review standby, network-wake and quick-start options. A recorder may need power for scheduled programmes or updates, so check what switching off would prevent.

Measure the combined setup rather than assuming the television is the only load. Sound equipment and additional boxes can have their own operating modes.

2. Games consoles

Rest or instant-on modes can keep downloading, charging accessories or maintaining connections. If those functions are not needed, a full shutdown or different setting may reduce consumption.

Follow the console’s shutdown instructions. Do not interrupt an update or assume the screen being off means the console is fully stopped.

3. Computers, monitors and accessories

Review sleep and shutdown settings, external displays, powered speakers, docks and other accessories. At home, a work computer may still need approved remote access or backups.

Separate useful background work from equipment left operating through habit. Ask an employer’s IT team before changing a managed device’s power arrangement.

4. Printers and scanners

Networked printers may stay ready for jobs, maintenance or remote access. Compare the manufacturer’s sleep and off modes, especially if the device is rarely used.

Some printers need a particular shutdown method or perform maintenance when restarted. Frequent hard switching can be unsuitable, so follow the instructions rather than using a blanket rule.

5. Smart speakers, hubs and networking equipment

These devices may need continuous power to provide the service you use. A hub might control alarms, heating or other equipment; a router may support telephone services or remote monitoring.

Identify the dependencies before switching anything off. A small continuous load can be justified if it provides an essential function. “Not being touched” is not the same as “doing nothing”.

6. Microwaves and appliances with displays

A clock or control display can use a small amount of electricity between uses. Check whether the appliance can be switched off conveniently and what settings would be lost.

Measure the actual amount before assuming it is a major contributor to the bill. A low standby load and the energy used during cooking are separate quantities.

7. Coffee machines and keep-warm functions

Equipment keeping water or a warming plate hot is doing more than ordinary low-power standby. Check timers, automatic shut-off and whether it remains heated after the last use.

Energy Saving Trust’s kitchen guidance highlights this distinction. Use the manufacturer’s operating and cleaning instructions; a useful change may be shortening unnecessary keep-warm time.

8. Chargers and power supplies

Look at both the charger and what it is powering. An empty power supply, a device actively charging and equipment maintaining a battery are different situations.

Check consumption where practical, and unplug non-essential equipment when that is suitable. Small savings can add up, but it is sensible to prioritise measured larger loads rather than assuming every empty charger is a major cost.

Calculate whether the load matters

For a steady load:

Annual kWh = watts ÷ 1,000 × hours operating

A measured 5 W load operating continuously for a 365-day year uses 43.8 kWh. At an illustrative 30p/kWh, that costs £13.14 in consumption charges.

If the same load is avoided for only 12 hours a day, the saving would be half that amount, assuming the power remains constant and no other use changes. These figures are examples, not typical ratings for the devices above.

The Centre for Sustainable Energy explains appliance energy calculations. Use your own measured watts, operating hours and unit rate, with the same VAT basis throughout.

Measure without creating a problem

A suitable plug-in monitor can show the consumption of compatible equipment within its electrical rating. Measure long enough to capture any cycling or scheduled activity. A smart-meter display can reveal the household pattern but does not automatically identify each device.

Do not disconnect medical devices, refrigeration, fire or security systems, required ventilation or other essential equipment for a test. Do not use a monitor, timer or smart plug beyond its rating or on equipment for which it is unsuitable.

See the energy-monitor guide for ways to interpret readings. If power use changes through the cycle, a momentary reading is not the same as a day’s average.

Should you buy a smart plug?

A smart plug may help schedule an avoidable load, but it also has a cost, consumes electricity and can depend on connectivity. Consider whether a simple approved setting or manual routine would achieve the same result.

Choose equipment suitable for the load and consequences of failure. A smart plug is not a general-purpose way to automate safety-critical or high-power equipment. Savings depend on the avoidable energy it controls, not the word “smart”.

Look beyond standby

For some homes, heating, hot water, refrigeration or appliance use will offer more scope for investigation than very small standby loads. Energy Saving Trust reviews the main categories of household appliance use.

Keep useful continuous operation separate from avoidable consumption, and compare kWh before and after any change. The goal is an informed routine that preserves the functions you need.

Sources and further reading

Browse the Hub: Household resources · Environmental resources

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