Use a smart power strip

Most electronics continue to use up small amounts of power when they’re in standby mode. It may not sound like much until you recognize the sheer amount of household devices we rely on. The devices that suck up the most energy tend to be those that don’t need to be on 24/7 for important functions, such as TVs and game consoles. When many devices are constantly running, it can add up to a considerable passive drain on energy.

In fact, standby power makes up 5-10% of household electricity use. Not only does this high passive energy usage mean higher bills, it also results in greater CO2 emissions, which are a critical contributor to climate change.

The standby power of individual electronic devices can add up to a significant cost for households | Source: Family Handyman

Unplugging your devices when they’re not in use is one option—but it can be difficult to remember and to do, especially with so many devices around, plugged in at hard-to-reach spots. While unplugging gets the job done if you’re happy to do it, an even better option is to use a smart power strip.

Smart power strips are designed to detect when a particular device isn’t in active use and shut off its energy. You can get anything from a basic smart strip that just turns outlets on or off to high-tech smart strips that can group devices together (for example, only turning your monitor and speakers on when the computer’s on) or use timers and motion-sensing technology to detect usage. Some even allow you to manage your outlets easily through a remote control, app or voice command.

While all this might sound fancy, standard smart power strips don’t cost any more than traditional power strips. This makes them an accessible and effortless way to manage energy usage—you can plug it in and forget about it. Try upgrading to a smart power strip and see how much you save.