Power Up Your Savings: How to Cut Energy Costs with Smart Tech Habits

The rising cost of living is still a hot topic and energy bills are often front and centre.  While big appliances like washing machines and heating systems get a lot of attention, our everyday tech and devices are quietly adding to our energy consumption – and our bills!  Of course, saving energy isn’t just about saving money, it can reduce waste and extend the life of  the devices you already own, too.

But here's the good news: with a few smart habits and minor adjustments, families, and small businesses can significantly reduce their energy footprint and save money.  To celebrate Big Energy Saving Week this year, let's dive into how you can make your gadgets greener and your wallet happier.

1. The Sleep vs. Shutdown Debate: What's Best for Your Computer?

For years, people have debated whether to put their computer to sleep or shut it down completely.  But what’s the real difference?

Sleep Mode: Your computer uses a low amount of power to keep your current work in memory, allowing for a quick resume. It's convenient for short breaks or when you'll be back at your desk within a few hours.

Shutdown: A full shutdown uses virtually no power. It's the best option if you're finished for the day, going away for the weekend, or won't be using your computer for several hours.

The Verdict: If you're stepping away for more than an hour or two, shut down your desktop computer. For laptops, if you're done for the day, shut it down. If you're just moving between rooms or taking a short break, sleep mode is fine. Over a year, consistently shutting down can lead to noticeable savings, especially for multiple office computers.

2. Charger Awareness: Unplug When Full

We're all guilty of leaving phones, tablets and laptops plugged in long after they've reached 100%. While modern devices are designed to stop charging once full, the charger itself still draws a small amount of power if left plugged into the wall. Make it a habit to unplug chargers from the wall socket once your device is fully charged or when you leave the house/office.

3. Tame the "Phantom Load" with Smart Plugs

This is a big one! Many devices continue to draw power even when turned off – this is known as "phantom load" or "vampire power."  Think TVs on standby, game consoles, the microwave sitting idle and even coffee makers. These small, constant draws add up.

Unplug It: The simplest solution is to unplug devices when not in use.

Power Strips: Use power strips with on/off switches. When you switch off the strip, all connected devices are truly off, cutting the phantom load.

Smart Plugs: For a modern solution, invest in smart plugs. These allow you to turn devices on and off remotely via an app or voice command. You can even set schedules, for example, turning off all office tech at 6pm or household entertainment systems overnight. This is particularly effective for small businesses with multiple workstations or a cluster of devices.

4. Optimise Your Screen: Brightness, Dark Mode and Screen Savers

Your screen is often the most power-hungry component of your device.

Lower Brightness: Reducing screen brightness is one of the quickest ways to save power on laptops, tablets, and phones. Most devices have an auto-brightness feature that adjusts to ambient light, which is a good balance.

Dark Mode: For devices with OLED screens (common on newer smartphones and some laptops), using "dark mode" can significantly reduce power consumption. OLED pixels light up individually, so black pixels are essentially off, saving energy.

Screen Timeout: Set your device screens to turn off after a short period of inactivity (e.g., 5-10 minutes). A blank screen uses far less power than a static image or a flashy screen saver.

5. Embrace Energy-Efficient Upgrades

When it's time to replace old tech, keep energy efficiency in mind:

LED Monitors: Modern LED monitors are far more energy-efficient than older LCD or CRT displays.

Energy Star Rated Appliances: Look for the Energy Star label on new electronics. This indicates they meet strict energy efficiency guidelines.  (Read more about Energy Ratings Labels here).

Solid State Drives (SSDs): SSDs in computers use less power and generate less heat than traditional Hard Disk Drives (HDDs).

6. Review Your Network Gear

Your Wi-Fi router, modem, and any network switches are always on. While they don't consume huge amounts of power individually, they are constant draws.

Turn Off When Away: If you're going on holiday or your small business closes for an extended period, consider turning off your router and modem. Not only does it save energy, but it can also give your network a fresh start when you power it back up.

Just FYI, I was having a conversation with a web-designer I know recently who has a client who even switches their router off at night. Neither of us would recommend this.  Switching it off every night can lead to several problems related to your internet service, stability and security and, in our view, it just doesn’t use enough energy to warrant the technical problems switching it off that often might cause!

Consolidate: If you have multiple old network devices (e.g. a separate modem, router and switch), consider upgrading to an all-in-one unit, which can be more energy efficient. Of course, investing in lots of new stuff isn’t terribly planet-friendly so it has to be a balanced decision.

Power Down to Cut Costs!

By implementing even a few of these tips, you'll be surprised how much energy you can save over time. Not only will you see a positive impact on your energy bills, but you'll also be contributing to a greener, more sustainable future for the UK.

Start today - your wallet and the planet will thank you!