Does switching things off at the plug make a difference?

[Bemyclementine]

My ectricity bill isn't high compared to some, but has still almost doubled. I'm looking at ways to reduce costs especially in the winter. I went into debit last winter and am just out, so should build up a little bit of credit now. I rarely use the tumble dryer (never in summer) or dishwasher, but am thinking about things that are left plugged in and switched on.

Kettle
Washing machine
Tumble dryer
Microwave (no display though)
radio
TV
Dvd player
Lamps
Phone charge

I don't understand how it could help, but appeared to be enlightened.

That saud, I just looked at my smartmeter and as it stands with nothing actively on, I using £0.01per hour. Can't get lower than that cantit?!

radio
TV
Dvd player
Phone charger

These will use a tiny amount on standby. The others not. Computers and printers a bit.

Replace bulbs with led ones, they use far less. Especially if you have lots of spotlights.

The kettle draws a lot of power but it isn't used that much but fill with only what you need. Tumble dryer when on is a big culprit, as are ovens and electric heaters/showers if you have them.

At most you’re talking 10p ish a month saving - not worth it

This from the BBC -
UK households could save an average of £147 per year by switching off so-called vampire devices, British Gas research suggests.

and this -
How to identify the 'vampire appliances' that are bleeding you dry

Always good to go to the source of that.

www.centrica.com/media-centre/news/2022/vampire-devices-cost-households-147-per-year/

A TV does not use £24.61 on standby

They seem to have forgotten that most devices use about 1 watt on standby.

This article is more realistic

www.theguardian.com/money/2022/apr/29/tech-expert-energy-vampire-devices

One recent report from British Gas claimed “Brits could … save an average of £110 per household per year by simply flicking a switch”. The energy provider said 23% of British energy bills were caused by “vampire electronics, those that continue to drain power when left on standby”

But that statistic came from a 2015 report from the US National Research Defence Council, based on analysis of homes in California. “Think about the laptop you used 10 years ago,” Melson says: “That might need a big ugly plug in the middle, a big transformer. By and large, now you can just plug them straight into USB-C: that is much more energy efficient, and there is no need to draw power.”

And another one

www.sciencefocus.com/news/reality-check-how-much-power-do-vampire-electronics-really-drain/

@cakeorwine - Thanks - those links are really interesting.

I get a similar report from EDF telling me what’s cost me the most in energy terms. I tend to use a heated airer from Lakeland (6p and hour) to dry clothes in the winter. It’s in the office so when dh is working from home he doesn’t need the heating on as much.
Dazlin Cleaning on Instagram has a whole load of highlights saved on her profile and she made significant cutbacks on her bills with it.
I’ve also seen things where people use air fryers for the majority of their cooking as it cost a lot less than heating up and using the oven. Same with slow cookers.
it takes a bit more planning but it does make a difference. I’m on a fixed tariff just now but I’m trying to build in the good habits now so I’m not in debt over the winter and they are there when my prices change.