14 Household Devices to Unplug and Cut Your Electricity Bill by Up to €83 a Year

Standby power from plugged-in devices can quietly drive up your electricity bill. According to ADEME, these 'always-on' appliances account for 11% of a household's annual energy costs. I used to overlook this too—until I started unplugging and saved €83 yearly.

Here are 14 devices to unplug for real savings. Let's dive in:

Contents

1. Desktop computer
2. Internet router
3. Dryer
4. Washing machine
5. Phone charger
6. Microwave
7. Television and TV decoder
8. Game console
9. Printer
10. DVD and Blu-ray players
11. Coffee machine
12. Hi-Fi system and radio
13. Bread maker, food processor, and kettle
14. Laptop
Conclusion

1. Desktop Computer

14 Household Devices to Unplug and Cut Your Electricity Bill by Up to €83 a Year

Standby: 209 kWh/year or €23.

I once thought sleep mode meant zero energy use. Wrong—a plugged-in desktop still draws power. Unplug it completely when not in use, and disconnect the monitor too.

2. Internet Router

14 Household Devices to Unplug and Cut Your Electricity Bill by Up to €83 a Year

Standby: 61.30 kWh/year or €6.80 (up to 200 kWh/year or nearly €40 total).

We often forget about our router humming 24/7. Now, I unplug it at night, weekends, and vacations—easy savings without hassle.

3. Dryer

14 Household Devices to Unplug and Cut Your Electricity Bill by Up to €83 a Year

Standby: 103 kWh/year or €11.30.

Dryers guzzle energy even off. Not the most-used appliance? Unplug it and watch the meter drop.

4. Washing Machine

14 Household Devices to Unplug and Cut Your Electricity Bill by Up to €83 a Year

Standby: 51.50 kWh/year or €5.70.

Like the dryer, it sips power on standby. Unplug after cycles, especially in smaller households.

5. Phone Charger

14 Household Devices to Unplug and Cut Your Electricity Bill by Up to €83 a Year

Standby: 2.3 kWh/year or €0.30.

Surprise: an idle charger still draws power if plugged in. Yank it out once your phone's full.

6. Microwave

14 Household Devices to Unplug and Cut Your Electricity Bill by Up to €83 a Year

Standby: 25.9 kWh/year or €2.90.

Even off, it consumes. If it's accessible, unplug between uses—especially if rarely needed.

7. Television and TV Decoder

14 Household Devices to Unplug and Cut Your Electricity Bill by Up to €83 a Year

TV standby: 77 kWh/year or €8.50. Decoder: 12.3 kWh/year or €1.70.

Classic culprits. Unplug both when away—even short trips. Your bill will thank you.

8. Game Console

14 Household Devices to Unplug and Cut Your Electricity Bill by Up to €83 a Year

Standby: 42 kWh/year or €4.60.

As a gamer, I unplug mine during downtime. Habit changed, savings gained.

9. Printer

14 Household Devices to Unplug and Cut Your Electricity Bill by Up to €83 a Year

Standby: 8 kWh/year or €2.

Tucked away but costly. Not daily use? Unplug freely.

10. DVD and Blu-ray Players

14 Household Devices to Unplug and Cut Your Electricity Bill by Up to €83 a Year

Standby: 58.8 kWh/year or €6.50.

Weekend warriors only? Unplug midweek to curb waste.

11. Coffee Machine

14 Household Devices to Unplug and Cut Your Electricity Bill by Up to €83 a Year

Standby: 17.1 kWh/year or €1.90.

Daily essential? Still unplug after brewing—outlets are usually handy. No excuses.

12. Hi-Fi System and Radio

14 Household Devices to Unplug and Cut Your Electricity Bill by Up to €83 a Year

Standby: 50.4 kWh/year or €5.60.

Not blasting tunes constantly? Unplug or use a power strip switch.

13. Bread Maker, Food Processor, and Kettle

14 Household Devices to Unplug and Cut Your Electricity Bill by Up to €83 a Year

Standby: 19.4 kWh/year or €2.20.

Infrequent use? Power strip them off post-use.

14. Laptop

14 Household Devices to Unplug and Cut Your Electricity Bill by Up to €83 a Year

Standby: 38.3 kWh/year or €4.20.

Less than desktops, but still wasteful. Shut down and unplug.

Conclusion

14 Household Devices to Unplug and Cut Your Electricity Bill by Up to €83 a Year

Rule: Unplug anything not in use, especially with displays. Bonus: It protects against storm surges. Small changes, big savings—I've proven it.