Good afternoon! Marta on the line.
Let’s start by taking apart one of the great myths: leaving your phone charger plugged in without the phone connected is NOT ruining you. Modern chargers have an idle power draw (when they’re not charging anything) that’s practically insignificant, just a few milliwatts. We’re talking about cents of a euro per year, not 50€ extra on your monthly bill. It’s like worrying about a drop of water while you have a faucet running in another room.
The router, that device many point to as the great energy villain for always being on, consumes between 5 and 20 watts depending on the model. Even assuming the worst case (20W) and that you leave it on 24 hours a day, we’re talking about 35-40€ per year. It’s not negligible, but it isn’t the reason you need a second job to pay your electricity bill either. What’s more, constantly turning it off can affect the stability of your connection and reduce its useful life due to power-on/off cycles.
Modern televisions are much more efficient than old ones, but their consumption varies enormously by size and technology. A 40-inch LED can consume about 50-100W when on, while an OLED of the same size can reach 100-150W due to its different way of generating the image. But the real problem isn’t watching it, but leaving it in standby. Although consumption in this mode is low (1-5W), multiplied by the hours you don’t use it and by millions of homes, the global impact is significant. It’s like leaving a faucet dripping: each drop is small, but in the end you fill a pool.
Computers are another major source of consumption, especially powerful desktops. A gaming PC with a good graphics card can easily consume 300-500W during intensive use, comparable to five or six LED televisions running simultaneously. Laptops are much more efficient, with consumption between 30-100W depending on the model and use. The good news is that modern sleep modes are truly efficient, with consumption of 1-3W, so you don’t need to completely shut down your computer every time you take a break.
Game consoles deserve a special mention. A PS5 or Xbox Series X can consume between 150-200W during gaming, but the interesting thing is that their rest modes are quite greedy compared with other devices, reaching 10-15W. If you leave them in this mode constantly, they can add up to about 25-30€ per year just for being “almost off”. It’s like having a low-power bulb permanently on at home.
Smart appliances, those that let us turn on the heating from our phone or that warn us when we run out of milk, have a small additional consumption due to their connectivity. A regular fridge already consumes quite a lot (it’s one of the biggest expenses on the bill), but a smart one can add about 5-10W extra for its smart functions. It’s not much, but when you start having the whole house connected (lights, blinds, outlets, appliances), those small consumptions start adding up.
Wireless chargers are convenient but inefficient. While a wired charger has an efficiency of 85-95% (that is, most of the electricity it consumes goes to charging the device), wireless ones hover around 60-70% at best. This means they waste more energy in the form of heat. It’s not a drama for your wallet (we’re talking about a few euros per year of difference), but multiplied by millions of users, the environmental impact is considerable.
Power strips with a switch are your allies against phantom consumption. Connecting several devices you usually use together (like the TV, the console and the sound system) to a power strip you can completely turn off with a single button is a simple, effective way to save. You’re not going to retire early from the savings, but every small gesture counts, both for your wallet and for the planet.
In conclusion, tech devices consume electricity, obviously, but many of the myths about their impact on your bill are exaggerated. The big culprits of electricity consumption in a home remain the climate-control systems (air conditioning, heating), kitchen appliances (especially ovens and ceramic hobs) and hot-water systems. Your router, your phone or even your TV in standby are minor concerns in comparison.
The important thing is to have a realistic, data-based view, not one based on myths or exaggerations. Yes, turning off devices you’re not using is a good practice, but don’t obsess thinking your plugged-in charger is emptying your bank account. As with so many things in life, balance and common sense are the key. And remember, the cheapest kilowatt is the one you don’t consume, but you don’t need to go back to the Stone Age to have a reasonable bill either. Until next time, electrified friends!
