Which Smart Devices Draw Power Doing Nothing

Does Connection Type Make a Difference?

The wireless technology used by a smart device significantly affects its standby power consumption. Wi-Fi devices typically draw more power than Thread, Zigbee or Z-Wave alternatives.

The Eve Energy smart plug uses Matter over Thread technology and is described as far more energy efficient than Wi-Fi smart plugs. Thread is a low-power mesh networking protocol designed specifically for smart home devices.

Eve Energy is rated AC 100-240V 50/60 Hz with a maximum load of 10A and 2300W, fitting standard Australian Type I sockets. It operates locally with no cloud connection, no registration and no tracking, and works with Matter-compatible platforms including Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa and SmartThings.

Reducing standby power is one reason to consider Thread or Zigbee devices if you are building a large smart home network.

Security Cameras and Doorbells

Wired smart security cameras and video doorbells draw power continuously. They need electricity to run the camera sensor, processor, wireless radio and often infrared LEDs for night vision.

A typical smart camera uses between 2 and 6 watts when idle and significantly more when actively recording or streaming. A doorbell camera usually falls in the same range, though models with always-on displays consume more.

Battery-powered cameras avoid adding to your electricity bill but require regular recharging or battery replacement, which has its own inconvenience and environmental cost.

Do Smart Thermostats and Sensors Add Much?

Smart thermostats draw a few watts continuously to power their display, processor and wireless connection. Many models are designed to be powered from existing thermostat wiring, so the load appears as part of your heating and cooling system rather than a separate plug.

Wireless temperature, humidity and motion sensors typically run on batteries and do not add to your mains electricity consumption. They wake periodically to take readings and transmit data, then return to sleep mode.

Contact sensors for doors and windows operate similarly, using coin cell batteries that may last a year or more depending on how frequently the sensor triggers.

Can Smart Switches Actually Save Energy Overall?

The Australian Government notes that while standby power of smart devices can be substantial, the energy savings they can achieve will generally exceed the additional energy they use.

Smart plugs can convert conventional appliances into smart appliances allowing remote control. More importantly, smart power strips can automatically cut power to appliances not in use, avoiding unnecessary energy waste from standby power in devices like televisions, game consoles and computer peripherals.

A gaming console on standby may draw 10 to 15 watts continuously. Using a smart plug to fully disconnect it when not in use can save more energy than the plug itself consumes.

How Smart Plugs and Energy Monitors Can Cut Your Australian Power Bill explains how to use these devices to reduce overall household consumption.

What Are the Hidden Loads Around Your House?

Many conventional appliances consume energy in standby mode even without smart features. Older devices can be particularly wasteful, according to AGL, consuming extra energy even when you think they are off.

Televisions, set-top boxes, game consoles, printers, microwave ovens with digital displays, and audio equipment all contribute to standby power consumption. Adding smart plugs to these devices introduces a small additional load but gives you the control to eliminate their standby draw entirely.

Standby Power: Which Appliances Cost the Most to Leave On? provides detailed information about conventional appliance standby consumption.

Measuring Your Actual Smart Home Load

Energy monitoring smart plugs let you measure the power consumption of individual devices. The TP-Link Tapo P110 includes energy monitoring that tracks energy use of connected devices through the mobile app.

You can use a monitoring plug to measure the standby draw of a smart hub, voice assistant or any other always-on smart device. Plug the device into the monitoring smart plug, then check the app after 24 hours to see the daily consumption.

Multiply the daily figure by 365 to estimate annual consumption, then multiply by your electricity rate to calculate the yearly cost. This gives you real figures for your specific devices rather than estimates.

Should You Unplug Smart Devices When Away?

For short absences, the inconvenience of unplugging smart home devices outweighs the minimal savings. A smart hub drawing 3 watts costs about 1 cent per day to run.

For extended absences of several weeks or months, unplugging non-essential smart devices makes more sense. You will need to leave any devices connected to security systems, but entertainment-focused smart devices can be disconnected.

Remember that unplugging a smart hub will also disable any automation routines or sensors that depend on it. Battery-powered sensors will continue to log data locally but cannot send alerts without the hub connection.

What About Smart Power Boards?

Smart power boards with multiple outlets and USB charging ports add convenience but also contribute to standby power consumption. The board itself draws power continuously to run its wireless radio and any USB charging circuits.

Standard power boards with physical switches let you cut power to multiple devices at once without any standby draw from the board itself. This is often a better choice for equipment you want to disconnect completely overnight or when not in use.

If you do use a smart power board, look for models that allow individual outlet control so you can leave essential devices powered while switching others off.