Almost every appliance uses power when in standby mode. Particularly electronics with clocks, timers, remotes, and chargers – leaving them on drives up your energy bill, but unplugging them one by one is a time-consuming task that many of us realistically wouldn't do every night.
Smart plugs, like this pack of four $6 Kasa plugs at Amazon, can be programmed to turn off at a certain time every night, eliminating the standby power that can cost households up to $100 a year, according to the US Department of Energy.
It takes a few minutes to set up a smart plug's routine to reduce your energy bills.
$6 Smart Plugs Can Save Up To $100 a Year
Once you set up a routine for your smart plugs, your electronics will automatically turn on and off without you having to lift a finger.
Despite the name, smart plugs don't require any specialized tech knowledge to use. There's no installation, all that's required is to plug your devices into the smart plug, then plug that into the outlet.
Download the app, and you'll be able to set timers for the plugs. This can be for the same times every day, or different throughout the week to account for changes in your weekly routine.
Simply set your appliances to turn off at bedtime, then on again before everybody wakes up, and your home will be using significantly less standby energy, reducing bills.
TVs, AC units, consoles, chargers, and small appliances with digital clocks are some of the biggest 'vampire appliances', secretly costing money by using what's referred to as 'phantom power'. Prioritising these devices with smart plugs will result in the most significant reduction in bills.
The Kasa plugs will be part of your smart home setup, too, as they're Matter-compatible, meaning you can control them using your existing voice assistant or smart hub, whether Amazon Alexa or Google Home.
The Kasa Smart Plugs are available as a pack of four for $25.49 at Amazon.
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Smart plugs will instantly reduce the amount your household is spending on energy bills by eliminating the power that your devices are pulling overnight, while on standby.
Here are six more solutions to reduce your bills around the house.
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
If you have electronics in the same room – such as your TV and consoles in the living room, or small appliances in the kitchen – this smart power strip can manage them at once, and individually.
For your cabinet, closet or stairs, these motion-activated lights provide bright visibility, only turning on when needed, and using less energy than your main light.
Shatter-resistant and said to last up to nine years, this pack of four light bulbs costs less than $7.
If your household is prone to leaving lights on, motion-activated bulbs can significantly reduce how long they're using energy for.
Like the smart plugs, this ENERGY STAR Certified smart thermostat allows you to set routines to avoid wasting energy, granting you control from anywhere.
Drafts result in higher AC and heating costs, so blocking them can reduce your energy bills year-round.
Next, learn where to put motion sensor lights in your home to reduce your bills.
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