Cut standby power: stop 'vampire' devices draining money
Devices left on standby quietly draw power around the clock. Here's how to find the culprits and stop the drain.
"Vampire" or standby power is the electricity devices use while switched off-but-not-unplugged. Individually it's small; across a whole home, left on all year, it adds up.
The usual culprits
- TVs, set-top boxes and streaming sticks.
- Games consoles (some draw a lot in standby/rest mode).
- Chargers left plugged in with nothing attached.
- Microwaves and ovens with clock displays.
- Desktop PCs, monitors and printers.
- Speakers, soundbars and smart displays.
How to cut it
- Switch devices off at the wall when not in use — a multi-socket with a switch makes it one click.
- Use a standby-saver or smart plug to cut power automatically.
- Unplug chargers once your device is full.
- Turn consoles fully off rather than leaving them in rest mode (or disable the energy-hungry standby features).
Worth knowing
Modern appliances are better than older ones at low standby draw, but the savings from switching off at the wall are still real — especially for older TVs, consoles and anything with an always-on display.
Find your biggest drains
If you want to know exactly what's costing you, a cheap plug-in energy monitor shows the draw of any device — plug it in between the socket and the appliance. You'll quickly spot the worst offenders, which are often older TVs, games consoles in rest mode, and anything with an always-on display or transformer.
Make it effortless
- Put TV and entertainment kit on one switched multi-socket — off in one click.
- Use smart plugs to cut power on a schedule.
- Unplug chargers once devices are full.
More practical advice in our Insights & Guides.