When we think of energy waste in the home, we often picture lights left on or heating systems working overtime. But one of the most common culprits behind higher energy bills is phantom energy—the electricity used by devices that are turned off but still plugged in. TVs, gaming consoles, kitchen appliances, and many other household electronics continue to draw power in standby mode, contributing to unnecessary energy consumption and higher utility bills. Fortunately, smart plugs and smart power strips offer a simple, automated solution to this problem without inconveniencing your family.
What is Phantom Energy and Why Does it Matter?
Phantom energy, also known as vampire energy or standby power, refers to the electricity used by devices that remain plugged in, even when they’re not in use. Many common household electronics—such as televisions, game consoles, coffee makers, and chargers—continue to draw small amounts of power when switched off or in sleep mode. Over time, this energy adds up, contributing to higher energy bills and unnecessary waste.
The challenge for many families is that manually unplugging devices after every use can be cumbersome, especially when multiple people rely on them throughout the day. For example, unplugging the TV and gaming console after every use might seem impractical if other family members are using them frequently. This is where smart plugs and smart power strips come in, offering an easy and automated way to cut phantom energy use without disrupting anyone’s daily routine.
Smart Plugs: Automating Energy Savings
Smart plugs provide a simple and convenient way to control the power to individual devices. These plugs connect to your home’s Wi-Fi network and allow you to remotely control power to appliances via an app on your smartphone or through voice commands with smart assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant. By scheduling or automating when devices turn on or off, you can eliminate phantom energy use without having to physically unplug anything.
For example, you can set a smart plug to turn off power to your TV and gaming console during the night, when no one is using them, or while the house is empty during work or school hours. If you forgot to turn off a device before leaving, you can easily do so from your smartphone, ensuring no energy is wasted while you’re away.
Many smart plugs, like those from TP-Link or Wemo, also offer energy monitoring features. This allows you to track how much power each device is using, helping you identify which appliances are the most energy-hungry. With this information, you can make more informed decisions about which devices to automate or upgrade for better energy efficiency.
Smart Power Strips: Managing Multiple Devices at Once
Smart power strips take energy management a step further by allowing you to control multiple devices simultaneously. These strips work similarly to smart plugs but offer the added benefit of managing several connected devices from one central hub. For instance, you can plug your entire home entertainment system—TV, gaming console, speakers, and more—into a smart power strip and cut power to all of them at once when not in use.
One of the key features of smart power strips is the ability to designate certain outlets to stay on while cutting power to others. This is particularly useful for devices like routers, which need to remain powered on for the internet to work, while other electronics like gaming consoles or DVD players can be completely powered off when not in use.
Smart power strips also come with scheduling and remote control features, allowing you to set specific times for power to be cut or restored. This makes it easy to ensure that energy isn’t being wasted on devices that are sitting idle. Some advanced models even have auto-shutoff functions, where the strip can detect when a connected device goes into standby mode and automatically cut power.
Benefits for Your Family and Your Wallet
The great thing about smart plugs and power strips is that they work quietly in the background, helping you save energy without disrupting the convenience your family enjoys. For households where multiple people use the same devices, smart plugs allow you to automate power usage in a way that doesn’t require everyone to constantly remember to unplug things. Your family won’t notice any difference in how they use their devices, but you’ll see a positive impact on your electricity bill.
Not only do these smart devices reduce energy waste, but they also help extend the lifespan of your electronics by preventing them from drawing unnecessary power while not in use. And with the added benefit of energy monitoring, you can stay informed about your household’s energy habits and make further adjustments as needed to optimize savings.
Conclusion
Phantom energy may seem insignificant on its own, but when multiplied across the many devices in your home, it can contribute to a substantial portion of your energy bill. Smart plugs and smart power strips offer an easy, automated solution to this problem, allowing you to cut power to devices when they’re not in use without the hassle of manually unplugging everything. By scheduling or remotely controlling power usage, you can significantly reduce phantom energy consumption and enjoy lower electricity bills—all while keeping your family’s routines and comfort intact.