By making one common energy mistake in the home, households could be paying up to £140 extra every year. New research by online TV retailer AO found that six in 10 Britons leave their TV on standby at least occasionally, with nearly a third doing it every day.
This widespread habit is quietly adding unnecessary costs to energy bills, especially for those still using older devices. AO’s Nick Bunce said: “Electrical products are now so much more energy efficient, with many limited to around one watt an hour whilst on standby. But we’ve all got lots more devices now, so naturally the cost is going to rise. We also have to remember that many people don’t replace electrical products very often, so I wouldn’t be surprised if some people still own older TVs, which are costing them a fortune.”
Here, Mr Bunce shared the electricals that are costing the most overnight, totalling over £140 a year.
TV set top boxes – from £23 to £60+ per year
Mr Bunce said many TV set top boxes now use more energy, even when in standby, because they’re constantly connected to Wi-Fi and searching for updates.
He said: “A typical box left on standby for 20 hours a day will set you back at least £23 over the course of a year.”
Gaming consoles – from £13 to £40 per year
Game consoles have had a bad rep in the past for energy efficiency, especially when they’re on standby. However, Mr Bunce noted: “The new rules on electrical products mean they cost a lot less now and usually switch onto standby mode automatically. Still, models set to ‘instant on’ mode could cost you as much as £40 extra per year.”
Soundbars – from £5 to £17 per year
Mr Bunce said: “Soundbars have become a lot more economical to use, but even now, leaving a typical Samsung Soundbar with Subwoofer on standby could set you back up to £17 a year, and that’s not including the cost when it’s in use.”
Smart speakers – from £5 to £10 per year
Mr Bunce said: “Have you ever considered how much the Alexa in the corner of your living room might be costing you? Newer models are designed to save us money, but older generations could cost you up to £10 a year more per device when sat in sleep mode.”
He added: “Don’t be fooled that the screen is blank, it’s probably still harming your bank.”
TVs – from £1 to £13 per year
Many people assume that TVs cost almost nothing when not being watched, which is partly true. However, there is still an energy cost every time a TV switches to standby mode.
Mr Bunce said: “Most items actually won’t turn off anymore – meaning TVs are being left on standby for a lot longer. Each TV costs us at least £1 to stay on standby, with older models costing up to £13 per year.”
Mr Bunce added: “On their own, the cost of running some of these devices in standby mode is less than a cup of coffee. But when you factor in how tech-heavy our homes are, that cost is going to spiral and stack up over a year.”
