Cut standby power
Devices left on standby keep drawing electricity. Switching them off at the wall stops it.
device: Smart plug
problem: Standby waste
problem: High electricity bills
topic: Smart home & monitoring
topic: Appliances
What to do
- Walk round your home and note devices with standby lights.
- Switch TVs, consoles and chargers off at the wall when not in use.
- Use smart plugs or a standby-saver extension for awkward sockets.
- Leave on anything that needs to stay on, such as routers or set-top recorders.
Useful tools and guides
Related tips
Use timers and motion sensors for lights
Lights left on in empty hallways and outdoors waste electricity. Sensors and timers switch them off for you.
Wash clothes at 30°C
Heating water is the most energy-hungry part of a wash. Modern detergents clean well at lower temperatures.
Air-dry instead of tumble drying
Tumble dryers are among the most expensive appliances to run. Drying outside or on a rack costs nothing.
Use your dishwasher's eco setting
Eco programmes run longer but use less water and heat, cutting the energy used per cycle.
