Stealthy money suckers lurking in your home

Households have been warned about ten energy draining ‘vampire appliances’ which could be haunting household bills.

A recent Quotezone survey showed 82% didn’t know what a vampire device was.*

The money saving team at Quotezone.co.uk have identified ten of these ‘energy-hungry’ devices which are likely eating away at Brits’ energy bills this Autumn while on standby. 

The survey found 55% of people leave their household appliances on standby,  which can potentially cause up to 23% of wasted electricity.**

Yet an act as simple as flicking a switch can stop electronics sucking up almost a quarter of a home’s energy consumption.

The most energy draining appliances are electronic devices such as desktop computers, laptops, gaming consoles and TVs, which are almost always left on standby.

The survey showed 83% didn’t realise their TV was a vampire device and 58% leave it switched on all year round, rarely ever unplugging it.

Most households are oblivious to how much vampire appliances are actually costing them, but in reality, it can count for around 5% of a typical electricity bill.

Appliances which use water such as the dishwasher and washing machine have also made the list as they are almost always left on standby.

Price comparison expert at Quotezone.co.uk, Tiffany Mealiff, said: “The simplest way to reduce your energy usage and save money is to eliminate vampire appliances and avoid unnecessary waste.

“It may only seem like small costs, a fiver here and there, but it all adds up.  Leaving the items on our top ten appliances list on standby throughout the year could cost nearly £80.

“Although it can be tedious to turn on and off your devices every time they’re not in use, it can make a difference to your household bills long-term and avoids paying for energy you’re not using.”

Quotezone.co.uk’s ten energy hungry appliances on standby:

1.Gaming console: £23.82

An annual standby cost from gaming consoles stands at a huge £23.82 as they maintain constant internet connectivity, which over time adds up significantly. 

2.Desktop computer: £11.58

With the rise of working from home, people are using their computers a lot longer, the active use already contributes significantly to energy bills but you could save £11.58 a year by turning it fully off rather than leaving it in standby mode. 

3.Laptop: £9

Although laptops are often unplugged due to their portability, if you leave them plugged in overnight even though they are switched off and fully charged, they will continue to bleed needless power from your home.

4.Smart speakers: £6.40

Smart speakers consume 3W per hour on standby. People usually only use smart speakers for a few hours per day but if they’re left plugged in and on standby all year round then it’ll add £6.40 to annual electricity bills.

5.Dishwasher: £6.44

Matching speakers in standby energy use, dishwashers can add £6.44 to your annual bills. Even if you are doing multiple loads a day it is best to remember to switch off your dishwasher when not in use overnight.

6.Washing machine: £5.58

While standby use costs less than 1p per hour, it accumulates over a year. This sum could alternatively power two 3W LED bulbs for 8 hours daily throughout the year.

7.Tumble dryer: £5.58

Tumble driers are one of those appliances that are often naturally on standby all year round for convenience but getting into the habit of switching it off before bed could help add to your savings.

8.Microwave: £5.15

Despite brief daily use, microwaves are often left on continuously adding on silent yet significant costs to your energy bills.

9.TV: £4.90

TV’s are one of the lesser-known energy vultures, especially with added devices like set-top boxes, switching them off completely when not in use helps avoid unnecessary spend.

10.Coffee makers: £1.26

High-end coffee makers with built in clock displays and keep-warm functions can suck £1.26 annually worth of energy in standby mode.

	Device	Annual Standby Cost
1	Gaming console	£23.82
2	Desktop computer	£11.58
3	Laptop	£9
4	Dishwasher	£6.44
5	Smart speakers	£6.40
6	Washing machine	£5.58
7	Tumble dryer	£5.58
8	Microwave	£5.15
9	TV	£4.90
10	Coffee makers	£1.26
	TOTAL	£79.71

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As a price comparison site, Quotezone.co.uk helps over four million people across the UK every year find savings on energy, home insurance and even personal loans. 

References:

*Quotezone.co.uk’s findings are based on a randomised survey of 1,000 respondents across the UK during October 2024, which represents a margin of error of approximately 5% at a 95% confidence level.
**https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/blog/most-energy-consuming-appliances
https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/hub/quick-tips-to-save-energy/
https://blog.loop.homes/the-cost-of-leaving-appliances-in-standby-mode
https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/blog/most-energy-consuming-appliances