With record-breaking heat still scorching much of the US, keeping your home comfortable can quickly drain your budget. Running the AC around the clock is costly, and according to a CNET survey, nearly 80% of US adults are stressed about rising energy costs. While it might feel like there's no easy way to cut expenses, one simple habit can make a big difference: unplugging devices when you're not using them.
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Many electronics in your home continue to draw electricity even when powered off, earning them the name "energy vampires." TVs, printers, gaming consoles, coffee makers and even electric toothbrushes quietly sip energy all day, adding up to a surprising hit on your monthly bill.
Tackling these hidden drains isn't hard. Identify the biggest culprits in your home, unplug these devices when you're not using them, and you could see real savings by the end of the summer. It's one of the easiest, most effective ways to fight back against high energy bills without sacrificing comfort.
Below, we'll answer how much money unplugging home appliances can actually save you and whether the energy savings are worth unplugging and replugging appliances each day. Plus, to maximize your energy savings, we have tips on how to lower your water bill, the best temperature to set your thermostat at to save money and the energy-efficient way to do laundry to cut utility costs.
Can unplugging appliances actually save me money?
It might seem counterintuitive to unplug your appliances. After all, they're off, so why would they be sucking up energy?
The fact is, household appliances actually still use energy even when they are turned off but still plugged in, according to Energy.gov. Whether the device is switched off or in standby mode, some of the worst offenders are:
- A device that may still use energy in the form of lights or other displays showing the device is off.
- Desktop computers that were put into sleep mode instead of being powered off.
- Chargers that still draw power even if the device is not connected.
- Media players that continually draw power, especially ones that still might scan for updates in the background.
- Phones with displays that show when not in active use, like cordless phones.
- New smart home appliances like refrigerators, washers and dryers that have always-on displays, internet connectivity and electronic controls.
Reduce your standby power to save electricity and money
Many people are shocked to realize how much standby power can add up. Standby power accounts for 5% to 10% of residential energy use, according to the Department of Energy.
How much you save could depend on how many devices you use -- and your habits with them. For instance, an educational experiment from Colorado State University found that a combo radio/CD player/tape player used 4 watts continually, whether it was in use or not. Unplugging it when not in use would save 100 times as much power during the lifetime of the device.
A study published by the Natural Resources Defense Council (PDF) found that reducing the load from always-on devices would save consumers a total of $8 billion annually and avoid using 64 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. It also has environmental benefits, like preventing 44 million metric tons of carbon dioxide pollution. The NRDC estimated the cost of always-on devices at up to $165 per household per year on average.
How can I optimize my standby power?
The first step is, of course, to unplug anything that is not actively in use or not used often. Examples of devices that could easily be unplugged include TVs and set-top boxes in guest rooms. It's also generally easy to unplug media players when not in use, like a radio or CD player. When you take your device off its charger, it can help you get into the habit of unplugging that charger as well. You might also be surprised how many devices we have plugged in that we don't even use anymore. Examples could include old wireless phones, old media players or lamps that are more decorative than functional.
Unplugging and replugging in everything can get tedious, especially if your outlets are in hard-to-reach places. If the outlet is inaccessible, it will be hard to keep up.
Instead, you can also set up ways to make the process of cutting phantom load more automatic. You can plug devices into surge protectors. That way, one flick of a power switch button can turn off multiple devices. You can also get timers to plug devices into or smart plugs so that you can automate when the power is connected to a device. For instance, you might set the time for the TV's power so it is only connected during peak use times like evenings or weekends.
Investing in a smart thermostat that can keep your room comfortable, while optimizing for power consumption is a good investment for long-term savings. Similarly, installing LED light bulbs is an excellent investment that uses far less energy compared to incandescent lightbulbs. While the initial outlay might seem high, the savings add up over the years.
You can also look into getting Energy Star products. Many of these products are rated to have lower standby power use than products that are not rated by Energy Star.
Find additional resources for saving electricity
As power bills get higher and more erratic over time, it's more vital than ever to find ways to save on electric costs. For instance, in addition to unplugging the devices in the home, you can take a look at our guide about turning off lights when not in use. Another key way to affect your electric/heating bill for the better is to know the ideal temperature you should set for your home. You can also review our guide on quick tips for saving on your gas and electric bill, like turning down your water heater or changing your air filters.
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More money-saving tips
When temperatures rise, your air conditioner and water use usually go up as well. This can mean higher
electricity and water bills during the warmer months. Austin Energy and Austin Water offer tools and tips to help you
monitor your electricity and water use.
Whether you rent or own your home, these resources can help you reduce your water and energy use and increase your home’s
overall efficiency.
Monitor Your Energy and Water Use
- Check your energy use regularly by logging in to Online Customer Care. You can compare your use to the previous month or year or to similar homes in your neighborhood. You can also set alerts for higher billing tiers and receive customized energy savings tips.
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The Austin Water WaterSmart website can help you save water and money. This report gives you a customized water use profile for your household, information on your past water use, tips for saving water, and links to Austin Water conservation programs. Use your City of Austin Utilities account number to log in today.
Find Help with High Utility Bills
The City of Austin has a long history of helping customers with their utility costs. The comprehensive Customer Assistance Program (CAP) channels millions of dollars annually to programs that help customers facing temporary and long-term financial difficulties as well as serious medical problems. Energy efficiency improvements are also available through CAP.
City of Austin services include:
- Utility Bill Discounts — Customers on low or fixed incomes who already participate in certain federal, state, or local assistance programs can benefit from the City of Austin’s CAP Discounts Program.
- Financial Support Plus 1 — This program helps customers who are having financial difficulties and are unable to pay their utility bills due to unexpected emergencies. Austin Energy partners with local social service agencies who administer the funding to qualifying customers.
- Ways to Help Neighbors — Make a real difference. Whether you are a City of Austin Utilities customer or not, you can give a practical and thoughtful Gift of Comfort to help pay a customer’s utility bill. Or, contribute a tax deductible donation to the Financial Support Plus 1 Fund when you pay your utility bill. Giving this one-time or monthly on-bill donation helps neighbors who need emergency assistance.
- Payment Arrangements — Payment arrangements are available to customers who fall behind on their utility bills. To enter into an arrangement, customers must pay their monthly bills on time and pay the current billed amount plus a monthly installment payment to reduce their delinquent balance.
- Budget Billing — Budget Billing is a service available to customers who prefer to avoid significant fluctuations in their monthly utility bills. To achieve this, Austin Energy takes an average of a customer's previous 12 months of utility bills to calculate an average utility bill payment.
- Services for the Medically-Vulnerable — The City of Austin offers a Medically Vulnerable Registry for customers with a long-term disease, ailment, or critical illness. Eligible customers receive extra support during power outages, one-on-one case management, and additional time to pay their bills. Check eligibility for yourself or a loved one.
Stop Utility Scammers — Don’t Fall for the Call
Scammers target Austin Energy and Austin Water customers with threats to disconnect your utilities
unless payment is made immediately using an untraceable method. Customers can end up paying scammers and losing
money. Don’t fall for the call!
Report suspicious calls to 3-1-1. Learn how to recognize a scam.
To safely and securely check your account balance or pay your bill, visit Online Customer Care or call 512-494-.
Remember These Rebates and Resources
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Residential Energy Rebates — Explore rebates to help you save energy and money at home.
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Residential Water Rebates — Austin Water provides several rebates to residential
customers.
Try These Easy Savings Tips at Home
With local temperatures that reach above 100 degrees, try these tips to stay cool at home and save on your utility
bills.
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Set your thermostat a few degrees higher during the warm months of the year. Raise the thermostat
to 85 degrees when you are away for two hours or more and use fans to help stay comfortable when you are home.
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Install LED light bulbs. ENERGY STAR® qualified LEDs use at least 75% less electricity,
generate less heat, and last about 50 times longer than regular incandescent bulbs, and five times longer than
Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs).
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Save while streaming. Streaming video on a game console uses 15 times more energy than
streaming on digital media players. Streaming on a laptop uses four times more energy than streaming on a tablet.
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Point fans in your direction. Fans blowing directly on you can make temperatures around you feel
about 4 degrees cooler. Only keep fans on when you are in the room.
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Clean your AC condenser/evaporator coils. Clean coils lower your energy costs, extend the unit's
life, and provide cleaner air for you to breathe.
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Keep debris and high grass away from the condenser. These obstacles block airflow, which makes the
condenser work harder and run longer.
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Close shades/curtains on windows hit by direct sunlight. This helps to prevent heat from getting
indoors.
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Provide shade for outside AC units. AC units shaded by trees or structures work more efficiently
and use up to 10% less electricity.
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Dim the screen. Dim your televisions and computer screens to reduce energy use. Some TVs have
a “home” or “standard” setting option to help. This can also help with eye fatigue.
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Avoid turning on the oven during the hottest time of the day. Using a microwave or a slow cooker
produces less heat.
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Unplug appliances, chargers, and electronic devices when you are not using them. They use energy
even when they are turned off. Turn off your lights when you leave a room.
See our full energy-saving tips
list
Try these indoor and outdoor water saving tips, too:
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Water your lawn only on your assigned day and times.
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Take shorter showers (five minutes, tops). If you take a bath, fill the tub half full.
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Replace bathroom faucet aerators and showerheads. Aerators use 0.5 gallons per minute, and
showerheads use 1.5 gallons per minute or less.
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Turn off the water. Don’t use water while shaving, brushing your teeth, lathering in the shower
and shampooing or conditioning your hair.
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Only run your dishwasher when full. Scrape food from plates instead of rinsing.
Check for Leaks
Water leaks can cost you money and wastewater. Here is what to do if you suspect a leak:
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Check Your Water Meter. Write down a meter reading and check it again a few hours later (make
sure not to use any water while performing this test).
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Toilets. Check for toilet leaks by adding several drops of food coloring to the tank. If the
toilet is leaking, color will appear in the toilet bowl within 30 minutes. Leaking toilets can waste about 200
gallons of water every day.
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Faucets & Showerheads. Check all faucets and showerheads for drips. A slow drip can waste as much
as 20 gallons of water each day.
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Washing Machine & Dishwasher. Look for water on the floor near your washing machine or dishwasher,
it could mean a leak.
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Water Heater. Water dripping down the side of the tank could mean the pressure relief valve is
stuck.
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Irrigation System. Check the irrigation system for damage, especially after mowing your lawn.
Schedule a free irrigation system evaluation if needed.
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Soggy Spots. Soft, soggy, spots in your yard or uneven plant growth might be a sign of a leak in
your underground water pipes.
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Home Foundation. Standing water around the foundation could mean your underground pipes have
become damaged.
For additional details on leak detection, access leak detection resources from Austin Water.
Want to pass these tips along? Share these energy and water savings tips with your loved ones.
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No-Cost Ways to Save Energy (pdf)
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Water Conservation Checklist (pdf)
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Water Saving Tips (pdf)
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Maneras de ahorrar energía sin costo (pdf)
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