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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Unplugging idle devices can save on power bills.
- TVs, consoles, coffee makers, and mini-fridges are top culprits.
- Small daily changes help cut energy waste and lower electricity costs.
With costs climbing across the US, energy prices stand out, made worse by record-breaking summer heat and recent waves of scorching temperatures that have affected multiple states. Having endured several of them this season, I’m always looking for ways to reduce energy use.
There are many small things you can do to shave dollars off your monthly energy bill, and they go beyond simply switching off the lights when you leave the room. Did you know that you can save 3% on cooling costs for every 1°F decrease in your thermostat setting? As a fan of data, I’ve explored multiple quantifiable ways to save energy and how these methods translate into financial savings.
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Unplugging a single device when not in use won’t save you a significant amount of money. However, unplugging multiple devices can add up quickly to help you save, especially when you make it a habit. Here are the devices you should unplug when they’re not in use, and how doing so could save you almost $200 a year, depending on your local rates.
TVs, gaming consoles, and office devices
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It’s easy to forget to unplug TVs that aren’t in daily use, but it happens more often than you’d think. This is especially true if you have a TV in a guest room or common area that isn’t often occupied. Simply unplugging your TVs when not in use could save you between $2 and $6 a year for each one. As soon as I learned this, I ran to unplug my guest room and office TV.
Similarly, a printer left plugged in can cost between $3 and $8 a year when idle. One can consume between 2W and 6W when not in use, adding another good savings option.
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A single gaming console like a PlayStation or Xbox can consume between 1.5W and 10W in standby power, which can cost up to a dollar each month for a device that is not in use. It’s a good idea to unplug these devices when you’ll be out of the house or overnight, just keep in mind that you may still want to leave them in rest mode so you don’t miss an update.
You should also consider unplugging sound bars and speakers when not in use, especially in areas that don’t get daily use.
Coffee makers and kitchen devices
Maria Diaz/ZDNET
Unfortunately, I learned the hard way that my Keurig coffeemaker was driving up my power bill. I kept my Keurig in standby mode, rather than asleep, so it was always ready to brew a cup of coffee. This can consume from 60W and 70W because it has to keep the water warm and ready. This can translate into up to $60 a year.
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Similarly, a mini-fridge can cost you up to $130 a year to run, which doesn’t always pay off if you don’t need it to run all the time. I used to forget to refill my mini-fridge, so it ended up running empty for weeks, wasting between 50-100W of energy and costing me money. If you have a mini-fridge that you only use seasonally, like in your sunroom during summer months, it’s best to unplug it when not in use. Doing so can save you over $10 a month on energy bills.
Smart home devices that are mostly idle
Maria Diaz/ZDNET
Most smart home devices are focused on improving energy efficiency, but they can also be vampire devices. Smart devices are always consuming energy because they remain connected to either the internet or another device, like a hub. However, smart devices tend to consume very low phantom loads, so you don’t need to rush to unplug them all.
Smart bulbs and plugs, though small, are always drawing a small amount of power, around 1W. This only costs you between $0.65-$1.30 a year, depending on your local rate, but it can add up if you have multiple of these devices, especially if you don’t use them often.
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I have a lot of smart bulbs at home and I kill the switch on the ones that I know we won’t be using un the near future. Similarly, I unplug my smart plugs when they don’t have a device plugged into them.
A smart plug can often save you money on your energy bill. For example, if you have an older Keurig without scheduling capabilities that you’d like to have ready when you wake up, you can put a smart plug on it and schedule it to turn on just an hour a day. I also use my smart plugs to run a grow light for houseplants, a fan, and an older lamp.
Older devices around your home
Many people still have older devices plugged in that they haven’t used in a long time, but either forgot or simply don’t think twice about it. A single set-top cable box, DVR, or Blu-ray player can cost you up to $20 a year to power when not in use, depending on your local rates.
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Look around your home and see what is plugged in that doesn’t need to be, including alarm clocks, cordless phone bases, electric kettles, hair dryers, and more. Unplugging these devices and only plugging them back in before using them can pay off, even if it’s just a few dollars a month.
There are many ways to save on your utility bills. Here are some things you can do:
- Run a fan instead of turning down the A/C: Your central air conditioner unit uses between 2,000W and 2,500W when running, while a ceiling fan, for example, uses around 50W. You can set your thermostat between 4-6 degrees higher during the warmer months and use a fan to save energy costs and the life of your A/C unit.
- Keep the heat out: A warmer house takes more effort to cool, so you should make sure your windows are completely shut and your home is properly insulated. Closing the blinds and adding blackout curtains in some rooms can also maintain a cooler temperature throughout the day.
- Switch to LED bulbs: I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but this is a fantastic way to save on your utility bill. LED bulbs use 80-90% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and generate less heat.
- Learn about energy savings through your utility provider: Many providers offer opportunities to save on your energy bills, especially during peak usage days and hours. Find out if your utility provider has a savings program and what you can do to participate in it.
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You’ve likely heard about unplugging common household appliances and devices when not in use to save energy. Devices that consume energy even while they’re switched off are aptly called ‘vampire devices,’ and you may have more of them in your home than you think.
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The US Department of Energy recommends unplugging devices when not in use to reduce phantom loads. Doing so can save you up to 10% on your energy bill, which is a pretty significant amount for such little effort.
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Unplugging devices can help you save more energy than you’d think, especially if you often forget to switch off appliances like your Keurig. Many of the devices in our homes consume power even if they’re not in use, and the key to saving on your energy bills lies in compounding your potential to conserve energy.
As someone with a whole-home backup system that sees multiple power outages a year, I make a habit of unplugging devices to save energy. This is even more evident when the power goes out and I go through all my home’s circuits using the EcoFlow Smart Home Panel. The EcoFlow app shows me the load that each circuit in my home carries at any given time, and lets me turn them off from my phone.
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When the power goes out, I unplug devices that aren’t essential and turn off non-critical circuits. If my home consumes 1.2kWh at any given time, I can easily halve this by unplugging devices and switching off circuits. I unplug anything from smart plugs and lamps to air purifiers and robot vacuums that don’t need to be used during a power outage, and I keep my home running with only 330Wh to 600Wh to extend the life of my backup battery.
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Editor’s note: This article was first published in August 2025. It was last thoroughly updated, fact-checked, and reviewed in December 2025.
