New research reveals the 'vampire appliances' in your home that are 'power-hungry'

Irish households are warned of the “vampire appliances” lurking in their homes, as new research reveals everyday devices left on standby could cost more than €300 a year.

With several Irish electricity suppliers increasing prices this month, experts at CompareNI.com have named the 13 most expensive appliances that people commonly leave plugged in.

A survey by CompareNI found around half (51%) rarely or never switch larger appliances off at the plug - with research suggesting households waste between 5% and 16% of their energy through standby power.

Wi-Fi routers top the list at €50.30 a year, and while they are designed to stay on to maintain an internet connection, switching them off when a property is empty for several days could help reduce unnecessary energy use.

Televisions are the second most expensive appliance to leave on standby, costing €47.26 a year, followed by set-top boxes at €38.59.

Microwaves also rack up costs, with their clocks and sensors adding an estimated €33.53 a year, while games consoles cost €24.86 as they remain connected for updates and downloads.

At the other end of the list, laptops and coffee machines have a relatively small annual standby fee, but they are potentially used by more homes now with the increased popularity of work from home.***

Although these individual costs are low, the research takes into account items that are commonly used in Irish homes, with a combined annual expense across all 13 appliances coming to around €308.

Ian Wilson, Managing Director at CompareNI.com, said: “As energy costs continue to soar, many households will be looking for ways to keep their electricity bills under control.

“Standby mode is one of the most easily overlooked culprits when it comes to high electricity bills. Everyday devices such as televisions, microwaves and computers continue to silently consume energy even when they are not being actively used.

“While the cost of leaving these devices on standby may seem relatively small, they can quickly mount up - our research shows that households could potentially be wasting more than €300 a year without even realising it.

“Some devices, like routers, are designed to stay on, but others like TVs, dishwashers and coffee machines can safely be switched off when not in use.

“It’s also worth checking for ‘instant on’ or ‘sleep’ modes on devices such as game consoles, computers, set-top boxes and smart speakers, as these never truly shut down and stay in a power-hungry state all day.

“Switching appliances off at the wall when they are not needed or when going to bed is one of the simplest ways to cut bills and could lead to substantial savings in the long run.”

13 expensive vampire appliances on standby, that could save you €308.31:

1. Wi-Fi router - €50.30 a year. Built to stay on, but worth switching off if you’re away for several days.
2. Television - €47.26 a year. Even when the screen is dark, TVs keep drawing power for remote and update functions.
3. Set-top box - €38.59 a year. Boxes stay in a ready state for recordings and updates.
4. Microwave - €33.53 a year. The clock and sensors run all day and consume energy unnecessarily.
5. Games console - €24.86 a year. Consoles in standby can stay connected for updates and downloads.
6. Computer - €22.84 a year. Fully shutting down the computer at the end of the working day can help cut unnecessary consumption.
7. Smart speakers and smart home devices - €20.09 a year. They’re always listening, so always drawing power.
8. Electric shower - €18.21 a year. The control unit keeps drawing power between showers, they normally have a pull-chord in the bathroom to switch them off completely when not in use.
9. Dishwasher - €14.16 a year. Once the washing cycle has finished, leaving the dishwasher on standby can contribute to unnecessary energy use, so switch it off when it’s not being used.
10. Laptop - €10.58 a year. With work from home still a popular choice, laptops may be left on standby overnight and all weekend long, wasting energy.****
11. Tumble dryer - €9.83 a year. While it doesn’t cost a lot to leave your tumble dryer on standby, it’s a cost you can easily avoid.
12. Washing machine - €9.83 a year. Same as the dryer, getting into the habit of switching off daily could help build savings.
13. Coffee machine - €8.24 a year. With more people installing home offices, the coffee pot could potentially be left on standby throughout the working week.

CompareNI.com can help people find savings on all sorts of everyday items and household bills such as home insurance.