U.S. Department of Energy approximates that 5 to 10 percent of home energy consumption stems from phantom power, costing the average homeowner up to $100 annually. One or two USB chargers connected might not appear to consume much, but cumulatively, in a household, the total usage can be significant. If you have children, consider their chargers or devices constantly plugged in, along with your partner’s, yours, or those of any visitors.
However, it’s not only USB chargers that draw power. Numerous devices in standby mode utilize small amounts of electricity, such as cable boxes, streaming devices, gaming consoles, smart TVs, microwaves, appliances, audio systems, and many others. Now, envision all those devices plugged in continuously, throughout the day, every day. That represents a considerable amount of energy likely being wasted. You can alleviate this by transitioning to newer, more energy-efficient alternatives. Indeed, a lesser-known aspect of smart home technology is its ability to reduce energy consumption by minimizing constant power draw or utilizing energy more effectively.