Your Smart Home Is Raising Your Electric Bill. Here’s How to Stop It

Smart homes have been sold as the wave of the future, promising convenience, automation and energy savings. The reality, however, is that the more parts of your home that require consistent power, the more energy vampires are likely to quietly spike your energy bill, particularly given the rising cost of energy. The culprit is rarely a single device; typically, the issue arises from the cumulative load from dozens of “always on” gadgets that never fully power down.

If your utility bill has been especially eye-popping, your smart home setup may be part of the problem. Here are the common smart home devices you’ll want to check, along with tips for what you can safely optimize or turn off right now to save yourself a few precious dollars.

The hidden cost of always-on devices

The truth about many smart devices is that they never entirely turn off, requiring a constant trickle of electricity to stay connected to your Wi-Fi, check for updates or execute other passive features. They may always be in standby mode, awaiting a voice command or monitoring your home. This slow drain is referred to as “phantom load” or “vampire power” and can lead to significant expenses over time. 

Smart speakers and displays (1.7 watts or more)

Devices like the Google Nest or Amazon Echo are designed to always be alert for voice commands and stay connected to the internet so they can respond appropriately. That convenience comes at a cost, but there are a few ways to mitigate the expense:

• Disable any features you don’t regularly use, like motion detection or continuous listening.
• Turn off screens on smart displays any time they’re not in use.
• Unplug secondary or tertiary units in rooms where you rarely (or never) use them.

Streaming devices and game consoles (0.8 watts or more)

Streaming boxes and video game consoles are some of the worst offenders, with many featuring expensive idle modes that consistently draw power for background downloads and updates. Here are some tips for reducing their electricity demands:

• Switch gaming consoles to energy saving mode instead of quick start.
• Power consoles down completely when not in use instead of putting them to sleep.
• Unplug or use a smart power strip for rarely used devices.
• Enable auto power-down after inactivity.

Smart TVs (0.3 watts or more)

Many modern smart TVs stay partially active even when “off” to maintain network connections for updates and voice control. Consider these settings changes:

• Look for instant-on or quick start features in Settings and disable them.
• Turn off voice wake features if you don’t use them.
• Consider using a smart plug to cut power completely when the TV isn’t in use.

Smart plugs and power strips (0.5 watts or more)

Ironic though it may sound, smart plugs themselves often draw continuous power, even when a device isn’t connected. Here are some ways you can cut down on their power needs:

• Audit and consider reducing the number of smart plugs you actually need, especially for low-priority devices.
• Replace always-on plugs with manual power strips in low-traffic zones of your home.
• Use scheduling features to reduce draw during hours when you’re sleeping or away from home.

Smart doorbells and security cameras (0.8 watts or more)

Smart doorbells and security cameras are some of the most power-hungry devices, because these kinds of security devices are constantly monitoring for activity, recording or streaming. But there are a few things you can do to reduce their power demands:

• Reduce recording frequency or motion sensitivity.
• Disable continuous recording if it’s unnecessary.
• Adjust settings to only record during certain hours, such as when you’re away.

Smart lighting (0.2 watts or more)

Smart bulbs draw more power than traditional lighting elements, even when they’re powered down. What can you do?

• Turn off unused lighting zones in apps.
• Remove or replace smart bulbs in low-usage areas such as basements or closets.
• Use scheduling to ensure lights aren’t left on overnight (this is especially important for outdoor lights that you might not notice).

Routers and mesh systems (4.3 watts or more)

Your network is the backbone of your smart home, and it runs 24/7. While routers and mesh systems do tend to draw significant, continuous power, you’re unlikely to see much energy savings here compared to the inconvenience of having to power things down. You can consider the following:

• Reboot or power down secondary mesh nodes or extenders overnight if not needed.
• Consider upgrading your router to a more energy-efficient model, especially if yours is older.
• Consolidate your networks if you have overlapping systems.

A simple fix for energy vampires: Smart power strips

If you want a quick, easy win, consider installing smart power strips throughout your home; we recommend the Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip, our choice for best surge protector. Many modern models come with power-saving features, such as cutting power to peripheral devices when a primary device (like a TV) is turned off. When you turn your TV off, the strip will cut the flow to your streaming box, soundbar and gaming console, eliminating standby draw across multiple devices with the press of a button. Many also allow you to set routines or schedules to automate that power-saving multi-shutdown. 

A quick audit of your devices can lead to small savings that add up over time, without sacrificing the convenience that made your home “smart” in the first place. I recently did a complete audit of my own setup using an inexpensive energy meter and was surprised by some of my findings.