A YouTuber bought a $39,000 house on Amazon and made this unboxing video, which just hit 7.5 million views. The 26-year-old was not pleased when he realized he couldn’t plug in anything. You guessed it: He didn’t read the entire product description. “Please hire an electrician for American standard wiring.” D’oh.
6 pieces of tech that are always draining power and costing you money
Depending on where you live, your electric bill can be super expensive, no matter which season we’re in. You run the AC during summer and the furnace during winter. We don’t seem to get a break.
Smart devices can go a long way in saving you some cash. Smart sprinklers, for instance, stop watering when it’s raining and monitor to ensure you’re not wasting water. Tap or click for the features to look for when upgrading your sprinkler system.
But what about the rest of your home? Most electronics continue to consume energy when they’re “off.” Why does this occur, and what can you do about it? We’re here to answer these questions and help slash your power costs brought to you by our sponsor, SimpliSafe.
Why do appliances stay on when powered off?
When certain appliances are powered off but still plugged into electrical outlets, they passively consume electricity. This is referred to as “phantom energy.” Most of these devices draw an insignificant amount of energy, but others, such as those listed here, use a higher quantity of power.
Research shows that when enough devices are plugged in, the standby power can equal 20% of your electric bill. Here are some of the most significant contributors:
- Chargers: Have you made it a habit to leave a charger or charging cable plugged in next to the couch or other convenient location? As handy as this practice is, the charger will continue to draw power. When your fully charged cellphone remains plugged into an outlet, it will continue to drain your home’s electricity.
- Computers: Most of us don’t bother turning off our computers. Instead, we put them into sleep mode. While these settings allow the computer to turn on quickly, it can be a drain on your electric bill. If your desktop has a monitor with a separate power supply, it will consume energy in this lower power mode.
- Televisions: When you turn your TV off, do you notice its power light turns red? If so, this indicates your television is still using electricity. Note that most newer TVs have a listening feature that your voice or other devices can automatically turn on despite being “turned off.”
- Streaming boxes: If you have a streaming box for your TV, any time you power it down, it continues to use energy to record shows you’ve scheduled. The device requires power to receive a signal from its remote anytime.
- Game consoles: Ever turn off your game console before completely shutting down your last session? Though keeping them on allows you to pick up where you left off, it requires the devices to remain powered. Of course, during any period your gaming system is off, your console continues to perform tasks like installing software updates.
- Printers: Do you turn off your printer at all? Or do you leave it in standby mode when done using it for the day? This habit ensures your printer uses electricity at all times. If your printer is wireless, be aware it requires more energy due to maintaining an active Wi-Fi signal, even when powered down.
How to reduce or stop energy vampires
Beyond the unrealistic recommendation to unplug all devices when not in use, there are ways to reduce and stop wasting electricity, including using Energy Star appliances, outlet timers, surge protectors and standby power killers.
Energy Star appliances – Energy Star is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program that certifies devices that meet various energy efficiency standards. While using Energy Star appliances will not eliminate your phantom power issue, it will decrease energy consumed when your appliances are both on and off.
Outlet timers – The use of outlet timers, such as this handy mechanical model, will not stop powered-off appliances from sucking electricity; however, they can reduce power consumption by turning off devices and equipment left on by mistake or in standby mode.
Surge protectors – Surge protectors and power strips have come a long way from protecting a few household appliances. Why not make turning off your office devices simple with a surge protector power strip that can accommodate various outlet sizes and has USB ports for charging cables?
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Next time a storm is looming, keep an eye out for imposters pretending to help you
What is a utility imposter scammer? Utility scams may strike at any time, but they’re widespread in areas with chaotic weather or the wake of natural disasters. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to spot a fraudulent scheme while busy with the hustle and bustle of life.
How Ford's electric F-150 will impact Mother Earth
If you’re wondering whether electric vehicles cause fewer greenhouse gasses, the answer is a resounding “Probably.” If you live in an area where most electricity is generated with fossil fuel, overall carbon emissions become a toss-up. Here’s the full story.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Speaking of energy: AT&T and Voltpost are turning lampposts into internet-connected EV chargers across Michigan. Since they’re using existing streetlights, they can get ‘em up and running in under two hours. The downside? Slow charging speeds. Still, not bad if you’re parked at the office all day.
The surge protector was invented in 1970. What was its official name back then? Was it … A.) Zap Trap, B.) Power Devourer, C.) Watt Wad or D.) Shock Block?
18 years
Paying the neighbor’s electricity bill. A guy in Vacaville, California, has lived alone in the same apartment complex since 2006. The entire time, he wondered why the heck his power bill was so high. Turns out he was paying for the apartment next door, too. What a dope.
True or false: Charging an electric vehicle is cheaper than paying for gas
Like them or not, electric vehicles are gaining in popularity. Car manufacturers produce more electric versions of existing models and create new ones built from the ground up to run on batteries. Expect to see more EVs on the road with each passing year.
True or false: Your TV is draining power when it's in standby mode
Most electronic devices have some form of standby mode. This probably makes you wonder if your smart assistants are always listening? The short answer is yes. Tap or click here to stop all your smart devices from listening to you and recording what you say.
What happens when you overload a capacitor?
Capacitors are essential components that help regulate energy inside most complex electronics. But since they’re only able to handle a certain amount of electricity, what happens when they overload?
🚙 Break my wallet: BMW is going all in on hydrogen-powered cars starting with its 2028 models (paywall link). How it works: Hydrogen fuel cells within the vehicles generate electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. The only emission is water vapor. Sounds sweet, but hydrogen is more expensive than gas, and there are almost no refueling stations in the U.S.
$1.2 billion
For Israel’s “Iron Beam” defense laser. The laser can take out air threats from over four miles away and never runs out of ammo (paywall link). The Iron Beam can destroy threats for about $2,000 a pop (the cost of electricity), compared to $50,000 for traditional missile defense. I hope this is on the U.S. military’s wishlist.
82% of campsites
Offer Wi-Fi access. It used to be a nice-to-have feature, but now, it’s almost as common as running water, electricity and an actual toilet. Other hot perks to attract campers: Pickleball courts, dog parks, kayaks and canoes. Oh, all these extras are in-tents.
In northern Virginia (paywall link), internet data and AI centers are using so much electricity old coal plants are being fired back up. Yup, those very same plants we closed because of air pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and particulate matter. Cue a $5.2 billion project for new power lines stretching across state lines.
Generators sold at Home Depot, Lowe's, Costco and more recalled for finger amputation and crushing hazards
A portable generator is handy to have around the house when the power goes out or to take on a camping trip for electricity. They should always be used with caution and operated in a manner that won’t harm others.
Unfortunately, accidents do happen. Whether it is through negligence or not paying attention, many people have been injured while using heavy equipment.
Warning! These smart plugs can be hacked and start fires
Smart plugs may not be the first item you think of when you’re checking out smart gadgets, but maybe they should be. These handy outlet plugs are a lot more useful than you’d think.
Want to set a timer for your Christmas lights? Smart plugs can do that. Or, do you constantly forget to turn off the lamps in your den? Set your smart plugs to do it for you. Tap or click to find out eight practical smart plug uses.
Electric vs. gas-powered cars - Which is really cheaper to own?
What ever happened to the EV-1, which was General Motors’ attempt to get into the electric car market in the late 1990s? Thinking you’ve never heard of the EV-1? That’s kind of the point, as it was gone almost as quickly as it arrived. Even though the electric car faded from memory nearly two decades ago, they have since made quite a comeback. It is all part of the eco-friendly car boom, which helps the environment by using less gas.