Everyday appliances on standby can rack up a substantial bill without you even noticing and can cost payers hundreds of euros annually.
As the cost of living crisis continues and energy bills soar, families will be looking for ways to reduce their costs in any way possible.
Natalia Lachim from Discount Code claimed leaving an appliance plugged in and turned on will drain electricity even if you are not using it.
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She said: “This is because electricity will be allowed to run through, thereby increasing your energy use and, sadly, your energy bills," reports Express.
According to Natalia, the following items are “the worst offenders”, costing you the most money.
When these appliances are combined, turning them off of standby can help save €2403.37.
Television
Your TV is one of the most energy-hungry devices in the house when left on standby.
If you don’t want it idling in standby mode, you will have to make an effort to get up and turn the set off at the wall. But doing so will be worth it for the money you save.
Natalie said: “Leaving the TV plugged in and switched on uses 1.3kWh.”
Fridge and freezer
Clearing the fridge out is arguably one of the worst household tasks, but doing so could save you money in the long run.
Running this one appliance costs you around €158.58 per year, but while you cannot simply turn off your fridge, there are ways to ensure it works as efficiently as possible.
The simplest way to ensure the fridge functions correctly, according to Natalie, is to routinely clean the exterior and interior.
She said: “As every household needs to keep their fridge/freezer on, it is hardly surprising that over 12 per cent of the entire household’s energy comes from running the fridge/freezer alone.
“Dusting the exterior means the cooling system won’t get affected, whereas cleaning the interior and disposing of any out-of-date food will ensure that the fridge doesn’t need to work as hard to keep food cool or frozen.”
Gaming consoles
By turning off your games console, you can save up to €5.83 per day, according to the expert.
Gaming consoles are likely to be left plugged in and on as the TV, but it consumes a significant 15kWh per hour when it is on standby.
Natalia said simply making sure it is totally off can save over €5 per day.
Kettle
Although a kettle is not the worst energy consumer, switching it off at the wall can make a surprising saving.
The expert noted that leaving an average kettle plugged in and switched on when not in use uses around 0.3kWh.
Although this is seemingly a small unit of energy, it still adds €42.56 to your annual bill.
Plugged in chargers
With many people still working from home, almost all are guilty of leaving their chargers plugged in and ready to charge as soon as they need them.
While it may be convenient, it is not the most cost-effective way to power up your devices.
Natalia said while leaving an empty charger plugged in might not be the most expensive, it is still adding an unnecessary €20.43 to your annual bills.
Alarm clock
Even something so little as an alarm clock connected to the mains will add a fair bit to an annual energy bill.
The expert said if your alarm clock is mains operated and is plugged in all the time, it can cost you around €27.98 annually.
She said: “Although this may not seem too expensive, to make further savings, you could consider turning off your clock when not in use and simply reset the time and your alarm before going to bed.”
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