MONEY SAVING... HOUSE MONEY

17 Household Appliances To Unplug To Save MORE Money

5 min read

Brace yourselves! Electricity charges are only going UP!

Yep, it’s that time of year where we attempt to cool down the house as much as possible, and often end up with a whopping great electricity bill at the end of it.  Summer is the most expensive time of the year.

So in the interests of reducing those electricity bills as much as possible, both to save yourself dollars and to be a bit more eco-friendly, it’s good to determine what in your house could be causing you unnecessary costs and pull the plug – literally.

Anywhere from 5 to 10 percent of your household energy bill might be coming from devices that you leave plugged in 24 hours a day, whether you are using them are not.

While experts believe most of our plugged-in appliances usually only account for low levels of electricity usage, some items like computers and televisions consume a heap of electricity – even if they are on sleep or standby mode!

The cumulative effect of having so many devices plugged in 24/7 can really start to add up and hurt your hip pocket in the process.

These are some of the biggest money suckers you should unplug when not in use.

1. Desktop Computers

Also monitors, speakers, printers – pretty much your whole office is plugged in – and sometimes we leave it on all night!  Turn everything off when you leave for the day!

These items can cost as much as $49 per year if you leave them on all the time!

via livescience.com
via livescience.com

2. Laptop Computers

Laptops really suck the power, and it is so easy to leave it switched on overnight.  Laptops can cost $49 per year – just by leaving them plugged in.  It doesn’t hurt computers to let them use battery power during the day – then re-charge and turn them off!

via techwalla.com
via techwalla.com

3. Televisions

Even when you switch your television off at night, it is still on standby.  This is costing you $29.00 per year, per television.  Turn them off at the switch.

via flipboard.com
via flipboard.com

4. DVD Players

Like televisions, these use standby power when switched off.  Turn them off and save $22 per year.

via dailymail.co.uk
via dailymail.co.uk

5. VCRs (if you are still using one in this century)

Throw it out. We live in the 21st century.  See above, DVD players.

via venetoeconomia.it
via venetoeconomia.it

6. Modems

Modems are often over-looked as they are tucked away.  But they too use power.   $36 per year in fact!  Turn them off at the wall.  (All modems should be plugged into a safety switch or switch protector too – to save them from storms!).

via highspeedinternet.com
via highspeedinternet.com

7. Pay TV boxes

Ever felt one of those Pay TV Boxes? They run hot.  Heat means power, and power means it is costing you.  $30 per year to leave these on – turn them off!

via satellite-maintenance.co.uk
via satellite-maintenance.co.uk

8. Cordless Phones

Sure, mobile phones need to be charged. But they don’t need to be plugged in all the time.  In fact, you will get a longer battery life if you only charge it until it is full – then allowing it to get pretty low on battery before plugging it back in!

via dailymail.co.uk
via dailymail.co.uk

9. Stereo Systems

via pinterest.com
via pinterest.com

10. Radios

via playbuzz.com
via playbuzz.com

11. Video Game Consoles

via newatlas.com
via newatlas.com

12. Coffee Makers

via halflifetr.info
via halflifetr.info

13. Toasters

via acem2011.org
via acem2011.org

14. Lamps

via northernlighttechnologies.ca
via northernlighttechnologies.ca

15. Electronic gadgets like iPods plugged in to the mains

via difundir.org
via difundir.org

16. Home theatre systems

via zionstar.net
via zionstar.net

17. Digital picture frames

floor digital frames have grown up into wall art digital frames have grown up into wall art hgtv home kids artwork frame kids artwork frames that store kids artwork frame | Stay at Home Mum.com.au
theartssection.com

It all adds up

Our energy usage is billed by kilowatt hours (kWh) – which is 1000 watts operating for one hour. It’s good to get a handle on this to avoid any terrible surprises when the electricity bill arrives. Check your most recent electricity bill to determine how much a kilowatt costs you.

The electricity that our electrical appliances consumed when they aren’t turned off varies from appliance to appliance. The range can be anywhere from one to 50 watts of electricity. It might not sound like a lot, but when you have 20 plus appliances in your home using this, it all adds up!

How do you save on electricity?

17 Household Appliances To Unplug To Save MORE Money

Avatar photo
About Author

Caroline Duncan

Caroline Duncan is a freelance journalist and photographer with almost 20 years' media experience in radio, magazines and online. She is also a mother...Read More of three daughters, and when she's not writing or taking pictures, she's extremely busy operating a taxi service running them around to various activities. She can't sew and hates housework. Read Less

Ask a Question

Close sidebar