It all starts with the flick of a switch.
Vampire power or phantom load is working behind the scenes to consume energy even when your appliances are turned off. So what is it? Also known as Standby power, it refers to the energy drawn down by an appliance when it’s not in use.
The impact of standby power functions on household bills cost consumers a combined $860 million annually. By turning off appliances at the wall, you can save up to $100 per year.
Despite decreasing 68 percent in the past decade, standby power is responsible for 5.9 percent of total residential electricity consumption.
Which appliances drain the most power at home?
According to the International Energy Agency, there are 14 billion online electronic devices globally, with this figure expected to reach 100 billion by 2030. A 2016 comparison from consumer organization Choice found that standby power consumption of these devices varies greatly. Here are some examples of everyday products ranging in standby cost:
| PRODUCT | LOWEST STANDBY COST – per quarter | HIGHEST STANDBY COST – per quarter | HIGHEST STANDBY COST – annually |
| Multifunction printer | $0.00 | $29.56 | $118.24 |
| Wireless VOIP router | $2.55 | $6.35 | $25.40 |
| Speaker docks | $0.15 | $4.75 | $19.00 |
| Washing machine | $0.00 | $1.90 | $7.60 |
| Microwave oven | $0.23 | $1.18 | $4.72 |
| Clothes dryer | $0.07 | $0.27 | $1.72 |
| Air con – large | $0.01 | $0.27 | $1.08 |
| Home theatre system | $0.01 | $0.06 | $0.23 |
| TVs – 100-115cm | $0.01 | $0.01 | $0.05 |
| Blu-Ray players | $0.00 | $0.01 | $0.05 |
As you can see, while the quarterly usage costs are not incredibly high, they do add up. It pays to shop around and check the star-rating of your appliances.
Top 5 Tips to Manage your Standby Power
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- Switch off your appliances at the wall where possible.
- Install a standby power controller. Check the energy rating of new appliances to see if standby power consumption is included.
- Buy everyday-use appliances such as fridges based on lowest running costs and best performance
- Check your energy-rating. Even though a device might have a low standby power cost, the overall energy efficiency when it’s turned on should also be taken into account.
- Take the surprise out of bills. With a Predictable Plan, you can choose to pay your installments fortnightly or monthly and even sync payments to the day you get paid. Payments are taken via direct debit, meaning you’ll never need to worry about paying your bill on time.
