High electricity bills and increasing ecological awareness make Poles look for ways to reduce energy consumption. One of the simplest and most obvious seems to be unplugging devices when they are not in use. In practice, this is not always effective and safe.
It's no secret that many devices consume electricity even when they are turned off, although they remain connected to the socket. In research, some of them are called “energy vampires”.
Does unplugging devices save energy? We explain
The issue of electricity consumption by devices that are not currently in use is analyzed by researchers, but is also very often raised by people looking for savings. Especially since – as the RMF FM website points out – the mentioned “energy vampires” may be responsible for a noticeable part of the monthly electricity consumption.
See also: Do you pay more for electricity than others? The reason may surprise you
For this reason, consumers have been encouraged to use power strips with a switch or smart sockets for a long time. In both cases, they allow you to completely cut off the power to equipment that is not currently in use.
These devices consume electricity even when they are turned off
As the RMF FM website explains, computers, coffee machines, hair dryers and chargers consume the most electricity in standby mode. Even when turned off, they can generate noticeable costs. Research by the Australian company EES shows that most devices consume electricity in standby mode, although there are exceptions – e.g. only 2.7%. lamps and 3 percent ceiling fans consumed electricity when turned off.
Annual energy losses due to “energy vampires” can amount to several hundred zlotys per household. However, the scale of savings depends on the number and type of devices and how they are used.
Do you want to save on electricity bills? Follow these rules
According to experts, new devices consume less energy in standby mode than older models, but more and more of them require a constant connection to the network.
It is also worth remembering that even if you are guided by the vision of savings, you must be guided by common sense. Not all equipment should be unplugged – for example, refrigerators, alarm systems and some smart devices must be constantly connected. Disconnecting them frequently can even lead to damage or electrical hazards.
See also: Energy class without secrets. One letter can change the calculus
If you want to save on electricity bills, you can also take into account the consumption of specific equipment, which should lead to the selection of devices with the highest energy classes.
Energy class labels have been placed on household appliances and electronics for several years. However, not everyone is aware that instead of the old markings A+, A++ or A+++, relatively recently customers will see a simple scale from A to G. When buying new equipment, it is worth choosing devices with a class closest to the letter A, because it means lower power consumption.
