BBC News 27 April 2022 - by Marc Cieslak and Tom Gerken
UK households could save an average of £147 per year by switching off so-called vampire devices.
Vampire devices are electronics that drain a surprising amount of power even when they are on standby.
British Gas research indicates households in the UK are spending £3.16bn annually just for the privilege of leaving vampire devices on standby.
Lying awake
A 54% rise in the energy price cap has meant a household using a typical amount of gas and electricity will now pay £1,971 per year.
In Leicestershire, Sara Gerritsma is feeling the pressure.
"The bill would be between £70 and £80," she says.
"This month, it was just over £120.
"A lot of tears were had from that, a lot of nights lying awake in bed, just going, 'I don't know how we're going to do it.'
"I don't know how I'm going to make this pot of money stretch.
"And it's a never-ending field of stress at the minute."
High prices
Bills could be set to rise even higher, Energy UK deputy director Dhara Vyas told BBC News .
"We're seeing really high price rises at the minute," she said.
"We don't know yet for sure, because global gas prices continue to be volatile.
"Some estimates do say that we're looking at bills of up to £3,000 this winter."
As long as devices are plugged in at the wall, they are slowly drawing power.
Smart speakers, laptops, internet routers all cost to keep plugged in.
It may be convenient to leave the television on standby and wake it up with a press of a button on a remote - but it costs £24.61 per year, the research suggests, plus a further £23.10 for a set-top box, such as from Sky or Virgin Media.
Games consoles on standby work out at an average of £12.17, while computers could cost about £11.22.
And there's more:
- Microwave: £16.37
- Shower: £9.80
- Washing machine: £4.73
- Printer: £3.81
- Phone charger: £1.26
British Gas energy expert Marc Robson recommends adding devices to an extension lead that can be switched off at night - or using smart plugs.
"There are smart plugs you can buy which will let you check everything is turned off from your phone," he says.
"At night, or when not in use, try switching off devices at the mains rather than switching to standby, as even the standby light on a television uses energy.
"Try not to overcharge your mobile phone and laptop unnecessarily.
"As soon as your device is charged, try and get into the habit of unplugging it.
"Not only will this save energy but it also prolongs battery life.
"A smart meter's in-home display can help to identify how much energy is used at different times of the day, so you can see where energy is wasted."
