Five 'energy hogs' to turn off that can save you money on energy bills

Many homeowners might not realise that certain household gadgets sneakily consume small quantities of power, which over time can increase your energy bill.

Despite not being the primary culprits for high electricity costs, switching these appliances off is a key step towards saving energy within every home.

Real estate guru Eric Bramlett, who is at the helm of Bramlett Residential, has singled out five key appliances to "should never" leave in standby mode and stresses why it's crucial to fully power them down.

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He warns that games consoles, while equipped with energy conservation features, have significant downsides because they can still use considerable power in their low-power standby mode.

Users often forget to switch them completely off or they may turn off the television and leave the console running, a move that could prove costly. Eric remarked, "They can be real energy hogs on standby. A client of mine saw their energy bills drop after turning off their console when not in use.", reports the Express.

The team at Energy Saving Trust has also pointed out that around six percent of a household's energy expenditure can come from gaming consoles.

Although this might seem insignificant, over time, the act of turning off your console can accumulate into substantial savings.

Furthermore, an expert from the Energy Saving Trust recommends keeping your consoles updated as this "can improve energy management".

Even cable or satellite boxes are brought into question as potential silent energy drainers.

Eric, an energy expert, has warned that leaving appliances on standby can be quite costly. He shared: "A friend of mine found that unplugging their cable box when not in use made a difference in their monthly energy bills."

These devices in standby mode consume similar amounts of power as game consoles.

As electrical appliances get older, their efficiency decreases and they start using more power, often due to malfunctioning parts.

One of the main culprits for energy consumption is an old fridge. While it's not advised to turn off such an appliance, upgrading to a newer, more efficient model could be a smart decision.

Even when not in use, microwave ovens draw power simply to keep the clock display running. However, you can save some energy by unplugging the microwave or using a power strip to switch it off, which could "lower your electricity bill" according to the expert.

Desktop computers are known for consuming more energy than laptops, so it's important to always turn them off completely. Eric advised: "Don't even get me started on those. Just shut them down when you're done using them and watch your bills melt away."