As households grapple with rising living costs, energy consumption has become a significant concern. Many appliances continue to draw power when left on standby, contributing to higher utility bills. A recent inquiry by Express.co.uk into which devices should never remain on standby led to a unanimous conclusion from five energy experts: gaming consoles are the prime offenders.
Gaming consoles, including popular models like the PlayStation and Xbox, are designed for quick startup and seamless updates, which necessitates a constant power draw even when not in active use. According to Micah Jackson-Sattler, the owner and head electrician of Micah Electric Co., these devices are often described as “the worst energy-sucking devices.” He noted that their energy consumption adds up significantly, particularly over time.
Caleb Caviness, the general manager of AryCo, highlighted that he often sees gaming consoles increase electricity bills for households. He explained, “These are powerful machines that require a lot of energy to function, which can easily raise an electricity bill over time.” While standby mode allows these consoles to install updates and respond quickly, it also means they continue to consume electricity.
Megan Doser, who owns Doctor Fix It Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Electric, elaborated on the issue. She referred to gaming consoles as “an absolute standout” regarding energy consumption. Doser pointed out that even when not actively played, these devices remain partially operational to facilitate features like quick resume, background processing, and network connectivity. Functions such as cloud save synchronization and powered USB ports for charging controllers further increase their demand for electricity.
Martyn Fowler, the founder of Elite Renewables, echoed these sentiments, stating that many individuals mistakenly believe their consoles are off when they are in rest mode. He cautioned that gaming consoles use around 10 to 15 watts in standby, which could add approximately £30 to an annual electricity bill without users realizing it. Fowler advises completely shutting down the console and switching off the plug to mitigate this unnecessary energy expenditure.
Nick Barber, co-founder of Prepaid Electricity and Utilities Now, emphasized that gaming consoles are among the highest power-consuming devices, even when they appear switched off. He strongly recommended either unplugging the console or setting it to a true turn-off mode when not in use.
With rising energy costs affecting many households, the insights from these experts provide a valuable reminder of the hidden costs associated with leaving appliances on standby. By taking simple measures such as unplugging gaming consoles or fully powering them down, consumers can effectively manage their energy consumption and reduce unnecessary expenses.
