{"id":4737,"date":"2026-06-09T08:00:51","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T13:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/powermepronto.com\/?p=4737"},"modified":"2026-06-02T10:02:01","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T15:02:01","slug":"does-putting-your-electronics-on-standby-save-power","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/powermepronto.com\/en\/does-putting-your-electronics-on-standby-save-power\/","title":{"rendered":"Does Putting Your Electronics on Standby Save Power?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Most people assume that if they put their electronics on standby, then they\u2019re no longer using electricity. This actually isn\u2019t true. Standby doesn\u2019t mean \u201coff.\u201d How much energy your devices use, whether they\u2019re on standby or turned off, is more complicated than you\u2019d probably think at first. Here\u2019s a breakdown:<\/span><\/p>\n

The Short Answer: Yes<\/b><\/h2>\n

So, does putting your electronics on standby save power? Technically yes, but it\u2019s probably much less than you\u2019d think. Devices on standby use less power than devices that are fully turned on and being used. The problem is that most people think that putting their devices on standby means that they\u2019re no longer drawing any power, which isn\u2019t true. Electronics on standby are still drawing power\u2014although less than they would if they were actively being used\u2014ready to receive a signal, keep a clock on display or respond to a remote.<\/span><\/p>\n

What About Turning Them Off Completely?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Once people learn that their devices are still using power when put on standby, their next question is usually \u201cDoes turning electronics off use less power than putting them on standby?\u201d And the answer is yes. When you completely power off a device or appliance, it uses significantly less power than it would if it were on standby, but this is where another assumption arises: devices that are powered off don\u2019t use any energy at all. This is also untrue. Devices that are powered off or put on standby both draw standby power, or phantom energy.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Standby Power (or Phantom Energy)?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Standby power, also known as phantom energy or sometimes vampire energy, is the electricity that devices continue to draw even if they\u2019re turned off or on standby. Standby power accounts for roughly 5-10% of a household’s total energy consumption. While this may not sound like a huge percentage, the costs add up over time. This can mean spending an extra $100-$200 per year on power that you\u2019re not even using.<\/span><\/p>\n

Do Certain Devices Use More Standby Power Than Others?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Once you learn about standby power, the natural next questions are \u201cWhich devices use standby power?\u201d and \u201cDo certain devices use more standby power than others?\u201d To answer these questions, the most common culprits of standby power are TVs, gaming consoles, cable boxes, chargers, appliances and office electronics. And yes, certain devices use more standby power than others:<\/span><\/p>\n