Households worldwide are increasingly focused on reducing energy expenditures due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. One area of concern is the power consumption of household appliances left on standby. According to five energy experts consulted by Express.co.uk, gaming consoles emerge as the most significant offenders, drawing power even when not in active use.
Micah Jackson-Sattler, owner and head electrician of Micah Electric Co., labeled gaming consoles the “worst energy-sucking devices” in standby mode. He noted that these devices continue to consume electricity when idle, leading to noticeable increases in electricity bills.
Gaming consoles, such as the PlayStation and Xbox, share similar standby characteristics with televisions. They remain plugged into the mains, ready for quick startup and updates, which results in ongoing power consumption. Caleb Caviness, general manager at AryCo, highlighted that he frequently sees gaming consoles contribute significantly to household energy bills. He remarked, “These are powerful machines that require a lot of energy to function, which can easily raise an electricity bill over time.”
The standby functionality of gaming consoles enables features like quick-resume, background processing, and network connectivity. Megan Doser, owner of Doctor Fix It Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Electric, explained that even when not in active use, these devices remain partially active, leading to increased energy consumption. She noted, “Things like cloud save synchronization and powered USB ports for charging controllers make them use even more electricity.”
In agreement, Martyn Fowler, founder of Elite Renewables, warned that many users mistakenly believe their consoles are off when they are actually in rest mode. He stated, “On average, they use around 10 to 15 watts in standby. That could add £30 a year to your bill without you realizing.”
To mitigate these costs, Fowler advises users to shut down consoles fully in the settings and switch off the plug when not in use. Nick Barber, co-founder at Prepaid Electricity and Utilities Now, reinforced this message, stating that gaming consoles are among the devices that consume the most power, even when seemingly switched off. He emphasized the importance of either unplugging the device or setting it to a true turn-off mode when not in use.
As energy costs rise, understanding the impact of standby power consumption is essential for households aiming to reduce their utility bills. The consensus among these experts is clear: gamers should be mindful of their console usage and consider power-saving measures to mitigate costs in the long run.
