Unplugging your chargers: An intelligent way to cut your electricity bill?
We can hardly imagine life without electricity, and for many, the absence of electricity would have catastrophic consequences. However, electricity prices are high, prompting us to look for ways to save money. This has led many of us to evaluate our device chargers' role - often left plugged into sockets - in our electrical consumption. Are these chargers the primary energy consumers that inflate our electricity bills?
Jan 30, 2024 | updated: 4:38 AM EST, March 7, 2024
Do we need to unplug the charger every time?
A few decades ago when the chargers were primitive, it was imperative to disconnect them from the socket. This prevented the chargers and the electronic devices from overheating, thereby minimizing the risk of dangerous electrical shorts. Nowadays, it's rare for a plugged-in charger to cause a fire or a short circuit, thanks to improved quality adapters and more strict legal regulations. According to a European Union law, chargers and other power supplies can draw only 0.5 W of electricity. This implies that our electricity bills should be lower if the devices are connected to electricity. But what does this look like in reality?
Many people argue that since electrical installations and power supplies are safer now, there is less reason for concern. However, some people still unplug their chargers during severe weather conditions to reduce the risk of a storm causing electrical discharges. While this approach increases safety, how does it compare to saving electricity?
What is the impact of a constantly connected charger on electricity costs?
Statistics show that the cost of leaving a charger constantly connected throughout the year is relatively low. The problem arises when multiple chargers are constantly plugged in. Over a year, these will consume quite a bit of energy, leading to higher electricity bills. As a result, we need to contemplate how we use chargers throughout the day to reduce costs as much as possible.
This becomes crucial if we frequently travel or don't charge our devices overnight. In such cases, we can easily disconnect the chargers from the power source. Power strips with a single button or a timer switch can be an ideal solution, as they will not draw power during the set hours. It's important to remember that even devices in sleep mode incur costs, which we often overlook.
