Five 'energy-hogging' appliances you should turn off standby to save money on bills - Daily Record

Five 'energy-hogging' appliances you should turn off standby to save money on bills - Daily Record

During the autumn and winter months, it can be difficult to keep energy bills as low as we did during the summer. The colder weather means we're more likely to turn the heating on, which can be really costly - meaning many will be keen to cut down on their energy usage elsewhere.

Certain home appliances can pile on the pounds to your bills every year, even if they're switched off, so pulling them out at the plug can be an ideal way to save some cash - however small the amount may be.

To help households figure out which appliances should be turned off standby, home expert Eric Bramlett of Bramlett Residential spoke to the Express to share his expert tips on how to make your bills "melt away".

Games consoles

Games consoles often feature an on/off button that, when pressed, puts the device into standby mode. However, many people fail to switch off the units, or leave it on whilst the television is turned off, which can end up adding money to your energy bills.

Eric described games consoles as being "real energy hogs" on standby, as he explained: "A client of mine saw their energy bills drop after turning off their console when not in use.”

It's thought games consoles account for around six percent of a total energy bill, according to expert at the Energy Saving Trust. And while this may not sound like a lot, choosing to turn it off should help you save money over time.

The expert added that households shouldn’t forget to update the reconciles as this “can improve energy management”.

Cable or satellite boxes

Even when these appliances are switched off, they can still use up "a lot of energy", according to Eric. He said: “A friend of mine found that unplugging their cable box when not in use made a difference in their monthly energy bills.”

These are said use the same amount of energy as game consoles when left on standby.

Older appliances

Certain appliances can become less efficient the older they get, and they need a lot of energy to work properly. And if parts of the appliance don't operate well, even more energy is required.

One example of this is an old fridge. It's never recommended to turn off a fridge at the wall, but it could be worth investing in a newer model if you have an old and inefficient one.

Microwaves

The expert says microwaves tend to use up energy when they're not being used, especially when it comes to keeping the clock displayed. Unplugging the device can help you to save energy and "lower your electricity bill", according to Eric.

Desktop computers

These are a common fixtures for many people who work from home, but it's thought that they consume even more energy than laptops, so it's best to switch them off. Eric said: “Don't even get me started on those. Just shut them down when you're done using them and watch your bills melt away.”

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