Phantom Power – Electricity You’re Paying for But Not Using (And How to Stop It)

While you’re reading this, dozens of devices in your home are quietly sipping electricity while they are “off.” This electricity usage is referred to as standby power, ghost power, phantom load, or phantom power—all the same thing. Hunt down your dreaded energy vampires and get your phantom power drain under control. You’ll be doing the right thing for both your wallet and the environment.

How much does phantom power cost a typical household?

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, phantom energy accounts for 5-10% of residential electricity use. That costs the average U.S. household $92-$183 per year (see the math), according to Energy Sage, a clean energy information service provider.

To estimate your own costs, it helps to know your actual electric usage and rates, of course, but here’s a handy breakdown of what common devices cost in standby mode. Click on the devices you have at home, and voilà! See where to reduce phantom power drain and save on energy costs. Just know that the costs displayed are lower than typical California energy prices.

Geek tip: Read the manual. Manufacturers’ instructions often list standby power consumption among power requirements. Or, grab an energy consumption meter, such as a Kill A Watt, to measure power draw of anything electrical in your home that plugs into a standard wall socket. Lawrence Berkeley Lab (LBL) advises you to check whether your local library loans out energy meters. Using your energy provider’s electricity rates, you can calculate your phantom electricity costs, although LBL also warns that most meters are “reasonably accurate but the errors grow relatively larger when standby is below about 1 W [watt].” For context, electric devices in standby mode use between 0.5 and 10 watts, depending on the device.

What can I do to limit my home’s standby power usage?

Instant-on is convenient, making standby power draw a modern reality. But if your goals include minimizing waste and cutting energy costs, here are some simple solutions for fighting energy vampires, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. Consider mixing and matching options.

1. Unplug
   No power, no phantom load. Pulling out the plug is the simplest and most practical fix, but perhaps not the most convenient if you use it often or the wall outlet is inaccessible.
2. Cluster related devices on a (low-tech) power strip
   If pulling plugs sounds onerous, it’s power strip to the rescue. Choose a power strip with a mechanical switch that turns a grouping of related devices on and off, all at once—think workbench, gaming station, sewing station, or coffee station. Beware, however, that power strips with always-on lights or lighted switches are energy vampires themselves.
3. Control from a wall switch
   Flip a switch. Common for garbage disposals, a wall switch can power appliances only while they are in use. Laundry machines or a power strip of related entertainment center electronics are good candidates for wall switches. Consult an electrician about adding “half-hot” outlets (a.k.a. split outlets or duplex split outlets) for wall switch control to minimize phantom loads.
4. Upgrade to a newer model
   Weighing up considerations like waste, carbon footprint, and cash, modern devices are likely to be more energy efficient and sip less electricity than older models. Those with ENERGY STAR® ratings are tested and labeled with “Estimated Annual Energy Use (kWh/yr),” which includes their always-on electricity use.

These next solutions are WiFi-connected smart power controllers, which generate phantom load themselves—around 0.5-2 watts while idle. But if you use them strategically to limit the phantom load from clusters of big culprits like your combined entertainment center, you can reduce standby power and come out ahead.

Operate these high-tech controllers from your smartphone with an app, a voice assistant system, or a smart home automation system (that’s an article for another day). It will take time to recoup the purchase prices in overall energy savings, offset in the meantime by ultra convenience and phantom load control—potentially all from one app, from anywhere in the world.

5. Install smart outlet plugs
   Great for preventing individual devices from drawing standby power around the clock, smart plugs sit between the wall outlet and your electrical items. You can activate the plugs from your phone and/or voice assistant. For OG button-pushers, some feature analog power buttons to manually turn on or off. Smart plug prices range from $6 to $10 each.
6. Use (high-tech) smart power strips
   Smart power strips connect to your WiFi and allow you to schedule and control power at the source using a smartphone app. Some have individually controllable outlets, separately staying on or turning off on schedule. Compare different smart power strip designs for different needs around the house, potentially opting for multiple types. Smart power strips generally cost $25 to $50 each.

With these energy control solutions, you can take real control over your household energy use, one vampire at a time.

For any electrical project, now or in the future, use a participating GoGreen licensed electrician. If you plan to take out a GoGreen Home loan to borrow money for any combination of qualifying energy improvements, first choose your contractor(s) and then apply for financing with any GoGreen Home lender that serves your area.

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