Halloween hunt for hidden ‘energy vampires’ could help families cut winter bills
THIS Halloween, ScottishPower is urging households across the UK to hunt down energy-draining ‘vampire devices’ lurking in every home, and use the spooky season to build energy saving habits as winter sets in.
‘Vampire devices’ are appliances that keep drawing electricity while they’re plugged in, even when they’re switched off or on standby. From TVs and games consoles to microwaves and phone chargers, they can quietly add to household bills without anyone noticing.
By switching off standby appliances and making a handful of simple changes around the home, households could save up to £313 a year, according to Energy Saving Trust.
Following the Ofgem price cap rising in October and with more cold weather on the way, ScottishPower is warning many families could be paying more than they need to simply by not switching everyday devices off.
Switching TVs off standby could save households around £45 a year, while avoiding the tumble dryer could save around £50 a year. Keeping showers brief, to four minutes, could save around £45 a year, and replacing older bulbs with LEDs could save up to £40 a year on annual energy bills.
Rozlyn Brennan, ScottishPower Smart Solutions Director, said: “Most homes are packed with ‘vampire devices’ quietly sucking electricity around the clock, even when they’re not being used.
“With household budgets still under pressure and winter approaching, Halloween is the perfect reminder to hunt them down. From TVs left on standby to chargers plugged in unnecessarily, these small habits can add up to a noticeable difference on your energy bill.”
“Taking just a few minutes to switch things off at the wall could help save money, reduce wasted energy and build good habits for the colder months ahead.”
Common household vampire devices include:
- TVs and set-top boxes
- Games consoles
- Sound systems
- Microwaves and coffee machines with digital displays
- Phone, tablet and laptop chargers left plugged in
All these electrical appliances can be safely switched off at the wall when they’re not in use, which makes this one of the easiest energy-saving habits.
ScottishPower’s advice is as follows:
- Switch off at the wall – don’t rely on the remote. A glowing standby light can be a sign the device is still draining power.
- Use a switched extension lead – plug the TV, console and speakers into one lead so you can turn the whole set-up off at once.
- Unplug chargers – once phones, tablets and laptops are charged, switch them off at the wall
- Know what to leave on – keep fridges, freezers, boilers, smart meters and broadband routers running, and check manufacturer guidance for devices such as set-top boxes that need to stay on to update.
ScottishPower is also encouraging customers to make greater use of smart technology to better understand how and when they use electricity, helping them identify further opportunities to reduce waste and save money.
ScottishPower has its ongoing Power Saver1 initiative rewarding eligible customers for shifting their electricity use away from specified periods, letting them choose 8 one-hour slots of cheaper electricity2 at selected times throughout the whole week.
And for electric vehicle drivers, ScottishPower’s EV Optimise3 can make charging smarter by automatically scheduling charging around the customer’s needs and available charging periods.
For more energy saving tips from ScottishPower, check out the energy efficiency page here and follow @scottishpowercustomers on Instagram.
Energy Savings Trust advice can be found here.
