With
the
rapidly
rising
energy
prices
putting
a
strain
on
many
households,
what
are
some
quick
wins
to
help
reduce
the
power
consumption
of
your
gadgets?
This
time
last
year
few
of
us
were
concerned
about
how
much
energy
we
used.
Even
fewer
probably
bothered
to
check
how
much
we
were
spending
annually.
That
calculus
was
always
going
to
change
as
Western
countries
began
the
journey
to
carbon
neutrality
in
earnest.
But
it
was
given
an
almighty
shove
earlier
this
year
by
Russia’s
invasion
of
Ukraine
–
which
has
sent
energy
bills
in
many
countries
sky
rocketing.
Granted,
consumers
will
be
impacted
in
different
ways
across
the
region,
depending
on
the
extent
and
type
of
support
their
governments
will
offer.
Their
situation
will
also
be
influenced
by
how
much
electricity
is
generated
by
gas-burning
power
stations.
But
whatever
the
particular
circumstances,
there
will
be
a
renewed
effort
this
winter
to
find
new
ways
to
cut
down
on
energy
bills,
not
least
because
household
spending
on
other
items
is
also
surging
as
inflation
bites.
And
with
electronic
gadgets
a
significant
drain
on
electricity,
that
would
seem
to
be
a
natural
place
to
start.
So
here
are
some
quick
wins
to
help
reduce
your
energy
bills
and
turn
the
planet
that
little
bit
greener.
WFH
turns
up
the
heat
The
number
of
connected
devices
in
our
homes
has
soared
over
recent
years.
There
was
a
time
when
we
could
count
only
laptops
and
desktop
PCs,
smartphones
and
tablets
among
the
items
regularly
plugged
in
at
home.
To
those
we
can
now
add
a
huge
range
of
smart
home
equipment
including
AI
voice
assistants,
smart
TVs
and
connected
doorbells.
It’s
estimated
that
the
average
European
household
now
has
around
17
of
these,
rising
to
20
in
the
US.
We’re
also
using
them
more,
thanks
to
the
emergence
of
the
hybrid
workplace.
Where
once
our
desktops
might
have
been
switched
off
most
of
the
week
as
we
worked
from
the
office,
now
we
might
have
our
PC,
laptop
and
mobile
device
all
plugged
in
while
we
work
from
home
(WFH)
several
days
per
week.
Multiply
that
by
additional
members
of
the
household
and
the
costs
start
to
add
up.
With
inflation
starting
to
hit
home
and
bills
on
the
rise
across
Europe,
consumers
in
some
countries
are
being
asked
by
their
governments
to
try
and
cut
back
on
energy
use
where
possible
amid
fears
of
power
blackouts.
Internet
users
are
being
asked
to
think
the
unthinkable.
Top
tips
for
saving
energy
Many
households
will
be
taking
steps
such
as
improving
insulation
and
some
may
even
invest
in
their
own
power
generation
via
solar
panels
and
domestic
wind
turbines.
But
for
most,
the
quickest
wins
will
come
from
adapting
their
use
of
household
appliances.
So
what
can
you
do
to
cut
down
the
energy
used
by
electronic
devices,
and
save
some
much-needed
cash
in
the
process?
Here
are
some
ideas:
-
If
you’re
on
the
hunt
for
new
gadgets,
look
for
energy
efficient
kit
by
checking
for
Energy
Star
accreditation
and/or
a
good
rating
on
the
EU’s
energy
labelling
scheme.
It’s
claimed
that
Energy
Star-labelled
computers
use
30-65%
less
energy
than
regular
machines. -
Once
a
laptop
or
mobile
device
is
fully
charged,
unplug
it
and
use
the
battery. -
Use
laptops,
rather
than
desktop
computers,
as
they
use
less
energy,
according
to
the US
government. -
Avoid
screen
savers
on
devices
as
these
can
use
extra
electricity. -
Activate
low
power
“sleep”
modes
on
devices
to
ensure
they
power
down
when
not
in
use.
Any
slight
surge
in
energy
use
needed
to
power
up
will
be
dwarfed
by
the
savings
made
compared
to
continually
running
machines.
And
putting
them
to
sleep
more
often
could
also
extend
their
operational
life. -
Even
when
devices
are
switched
off,
they
may
still
be
using
electricity
simply
by
being
plugged
in.
This
“vampire
power”
could
add
an
estimated
5%-10%
to
monthly
utility
bills.
So
unplug
any
not
in
use,
and
you
could
save
an
estimated
£65
a
year
in
the
UK.
That
might
not
seem
much
but
multiplied
out
across
a
city
the
size
of
London,
the
annual
savings
exceed
£580
million
(US$658
million). -
Consider
using
advanced
power
strips
that
are
designed
to
stop
them
from
drawing
power
when
not
in
use.
The
benefit
is
they
also
feature
handy
functions
such
as
timers
and
activity
monitors. -
Choose
the
smallest
feasible
device
for
streaming
video,
depending
on
the
number
of
people
watching.
Game
consoles
are
to
be
avoided,
as
they
reportedly
use
10
times
more
power
than
tablets
or
laptops.
Energy
Star-certified
content
streaming
equipment
could
use
25–30%
less
energy
than
standard
equipment. -
Switch
to
energy-saving
mode
on
your
TV,
which
dims
the
backlight
and
could
help
power
consumption
drop
by
a
third. -
Use
a
smart
meter
to
monitor
how
much
energy
is
being
used
in
the
house
in
real
time.
This
can
help
users
to
better
understand
how
different
appliances
affect
consumption.
The
good
news
is
the
monitors
themselves
use
very
little
electricity
and
could
end
up
saving
you
money
in
the
long
term.
At
a
time
of
geopolitical
uncertainty
and
environmental
crisis,
saving
money
isn’t
the
only
benefit
of
reducing
energy
consumption
at
home.
It
will
also
help
contribute
to
national
energy
security
and
save
the
planet
from
extra
carbon
emissions.
That’s
something
we
should
all
be
working
towards.
