BITE BACK AT WASTED ENERGY! THE SIMPLE TRICKS TO SLAY ENERGY VAMPIRES

  • New research from Utility Warehouse reveals more than half of Brits don’t know their everyday appliances could be secretly draining energy on standby

  • David Walter, Chief Commercial Officer at Utility Warehouse, shares expert advice on how to spot hidden energy use without sacrificing convenience

  • Utility Warehouse reveals the three household energy vampires to hunt down this Halloween

Monday 26th October London, UK: Forget the things that go bump in the night, it’s the things left plugged in that could cause a bill fright. New research from Utility Warehouse has revealed that over half (54%)* of Brits are unaware they have ‘vampire appliances’ at home. 

Also known as ‘phantom energy’ or ‘phantom load’, vampire energy is the electricity consumed by appliances left on standby. Even though the amount of power each device uses can be small, it can also add up over time, especially when multiple devices are on standby. Studies have found that up to 23% of electricity bills* are made up of wasted energy from phantom energy devices.

With some devices costing households up to £17 a year in standby electricity, Utility Warehouse is shining a light on the everyday energy vampires to look out for, and sharing practical advice on how Brits can take control of their energy use.


David Walter, Chief Commercial Officer at Utility Warehouse, shares his advice on how households can take a more informed approach to managing their energy use: “When it comes to keeping energy bills in check, it’s easy to focus on the big things like heating and lights, but the little things can add up too. The key is understanding what your appliances are using and when. Smart meters can help households keep an eye on their energy consumption, while simple changes to standby settings can help reduce unnecessary usage.” 

  1. Monitor your energy use with a smart meter: A smart meter can help households understand how much electricity they’re using throughout the day, making it easier to spot unexpected increases in consumption. By keeping an eye on usage, households can identify when energy use is higher than expected and investigate what might be causing it.

  2. Use smart plugs to identify individual culprits: For appliances that are regularly left on standby, smart plugs with energy-monitoring features can help households understand how much electricity individual devices are consuming. They can also allow appliances to be switched off remotely or scheduled to power down at certain times.

  3. Don’t switch off everything: While switching appliances off at the plug can help reduce standby consumption, it’s not always practical and some devices need to remain powered on to function properly. Fridges and freezers need to stay plugged in to keep food safe, while Wi-Fi routers and home security systems may need to stay connected to function properly.

Three most common energy vampires Brits should hunt down this Halloween: 

Set-top boxes: That little box sitting beneath your television could be quietly draining electricity long after your favourite show has finished. A typical set-top box can use up to 30 watts in standby mode, potentially costing around £17 a year in wasted electricity.

TOP TIP: Check your set-top box’s energy-saving settings. Some devices offer an automatic standby function, allowing them to power down after a period of inactivity. If you don’t need your box to remain on standby, switching it off when it’s not in use could help reduce unnecessary consumption.

Games consoles: For gamers, switching off a console completely isn’t always the most convenient option. Rest mode on devices can allow games and software to download in the background, while also charging controllers 

TOP TIP: Rest mode can be useful, but it’s worth checking which features you actually need. If you regularly use your console for background downloads or controller charging, rest mode may be worth keeping on. If not, consider disabling these features in your console’s settings and switching it off fully when you’ve finished playing.

Wireless speakers and smart assistants: Whether it’s an Amazon Echo or Google Nest, smart speakers are designed to stay connected to Wi-Fi and listen for voice commands, meaning they can continue to use electricity around the clock. According to Which?, smart speakers can add up to £5.99 per device to annual standby energy costs! 

TOP TIP: Consider whether every smart speaker needs to remain connected 24/7. If you have devices in rooms where they’re rarely used, switching them off when you leave could help reduce unnecessary energy consumption. Just remember that doing so will disable their voice-activated features while they’re powered down.

This Halloween, Brits can give their energy vampires the boot by making a few simple changes, helping to keep unnecessary energy use at bay and their bills in check.