As we all contend with recent gas and oil price hikes, finding ways to save money on our day-to-day spend becomes all the more important. And according to experts, many of us are literally throwing money away on 'phantom energy' – energy consumed by household devices left on standby when not in use.
But, thankfully, the experts have one very easy and affordable fix – a smart power strip. It looks just like a regular multi-outlet power strip but has one big difference. They detect when your devices are not in use and auto shut them down, which can help you slash energy bills.
Read on for the experts' advice on how to save costs on energy you didn't even know you were wasting, and find a selection of power strips and energy-saving buys to help you get started right now.
With three smart outlets and two USB ports, this strip can support up to five devices at once. Use it to set up timers and schedules to turn devices on or off via WiFi ,either directly from your phone or by voice with Alexa or Google Assistant. Plus, it will protect your expensive tech against surges from power cuts.
Whilst we'd all like to think we're doing everything we can to save energy and money in our homes, many people may be put off from delving into the issue more deeply for fear of having to make a big, expensive upfront upgrade, such as replacing windows with energy-efficient ones. Adam Cain, the VP of Marketing for Electricityrates.com, dismisses that notion. 'It can be a common misconception that trying to reduce your energy bills means making big upgrades. But what is actually true is that smaller changes around the home are what can have the biggest impact over time.'
Small changes can be anything from draft proofing to turning down the thermostat a couple of degrees or investing in a smart power strip.
Adam explains: 'One of these simple solutions is to use a smart power strip for main entertainment or workspaces in the home. Large electronic devices like televisions, gaming consoles, home computers, routers, and even fancy coffee machines are always pulling energy, even when off or not in use. This 'phantom energy', as we call it in the industry, can use up to 10% of a house’s energy bill.'
So, in effect, you could be paying 10% more on your energy bill than you need to be, for absolutely nothing. Alex Thompson, Tech Expert at TheComputerPortal.com puts that into real terms. 'Most people don't realize their computer and home-office setup can add $20-40 monthly to energy bills. I've helped hundreds of clients slash this by 60% with smart power strips that cut phantom loads.' Alex adds that the small investment in switching from regular power strips to smart ones will pay for itself within a couple of months, helping you to make big savings over the long term.
But how do they actually work? 'Smart power strips detect when computers, printers, and peripherals aren't actively used and shut them down completely. My client, Sarah, a remote worker, saved $32 monthly just by replacing her regular power strips with smart ones,' explains Alex. 'You can just set it and forget it as the built-in sensors handle everything automatically while protecting your equipment from surges, too.'
Adam adds that if you're using these in a media room 'All you need to do is plug your primary device (like a TV) into the control outlet, and then connect any accessories (like the speakers or sound bar) into the secondary outlet. When you turn the TV off, then everything else will shut down too.'
And, it's not just your computers and TVs that are draining unnecessary energy, says Adam. There are other 'vampire appliances' that are secretly costing you money, too. 'You can further reap the benefits by plugging chargers and smaller appliances into the same strip. Even these smaller devices can pull a bit of energy, so it’s helpful to make these changes in multiple places in your home.'
So, stop putting it off – you don't need to spend a lot to save on your energy bills right now. 'Small, more behavior-driven changes are those that tend to last the longest. Therefore, you want to have easier things to change around your home, so you continue to reap the benefits,' agrees Adam. 'These smaller changes are those you will stick with because they are low effort and low cost, and with energy prices changing due to oil and gas markets right now, anywhere you can save money is a plus.'
Shop These Energy Saving Buys
Timer outlets like this one will ensure that your chargers are always turned off when you are not at home. Plus, they can be used to control lighting when you are on vacation to help with your home security.
These smart plugs come with an energy monitoring app, and work with Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can see exactly how much energy your items are using, helping you make more targeted choices to save money on bills.
Don't want to mess around with an app? These manually remote-controlled outlets are a great option for those who are less tech savvy but still have outlets that are awkard to get to for switching off or unplugging.
This smaller USB hub is ideal for setting up a small phone charging dock, with individual switches for each cable to enable you to save energy when not in use. It's ideal for a family with multiple devices.
This smart plug turns any light into a smart light. It has an inconspicuous, compact design, perfect for tucking away in corners, and features convenient voice control and app-enabled options to turn lights on and off as needed.
Simply plug these into a power outlet and let them work their energy-saving magic by stabilizing voltage, balancing current, and controlling capacitors to save electricity and prolong the life of your devices, too.
As well as replacing your power strips with smart ones, it's well worth considering these small maintenance tasks that can reduce your energy bills, too – these will ensure that your equipment and appliance are all working as efficiently as possible and not losing 'phantom energy' and costing you money.
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