I keep hearing about smart plugs that reduce bills by eliminating phantom power drain, but I'm not sure which devices in my home are actually worth putting on smart plugs.
Obviously things that are always on standby like entertainment centers, computer setups, and kitchen appliances come to mind. But I've also heard conflicting advice about whether it's worth putting things like refrigerators or freezers on smart plugs (probably not, right?).
What's been your experience? Which devices have you found actually draw enough standby power to justify the cost of a smart plug? And do you have any recommendations for specific smart plugs that are reliable and actually help with smart home devices for savings?
I'm trying to build a system of useful smart home purchases that actually make financial sense, not just add tech for tech's sake.
I use a Kill-A-Watt meter to measure standby power before deciding what to put on smart plugs. Here's what I found in my home:
Entertainment center: 45 watts (TV, soundbar, game consoles)
Desktop computer setup: 28 watts (monitor, speakers, peripherals)
Coffee maker: 8 watts (clock display)
Microwave: 5 watts (clock)
Charging station: 3 watts (various chargers)
The entertainment center and computer setup were the clear winners for smart plugs that reduce bills. At my electricity rate, that's about $60/year in savings from just those two setups.
Things NOT to put on smart plugs: refrigerators, freezers, medical equipment, anything with delicate electronics that shouldn't have power cut abruptly. Also, some devices need to maintain settings or updates, so cutting power might cause issues.
Professional tip: Look for devices with external power supplies (wall warts) or LED indicators that stay on. These are often drawing standby power.
My top recommendations for smart plugs that reduce bills:
1. Entertainment centers (TVs, game consoles, sound systems)
2. Office equipment (printers, scanners, desktop peripherals)
3. Kitchen countertop appliances (toasters, blenders, coffee makers with clocks)
4. Charging stations (when not actively charging devices)
5. Seasonal decorations (holiday lights on schedules)
Avoid: Anything with clocks you actually use (microwave, oven), devices that need to maintain network connections (smart home hubs), and equipment with internal batteries that need trickle charging.
The TP-Link Kasa smart plugs have been reliable for me and include energy monitoring on some models, which helps track your smart home automation savings.
I started with just two smart plugs as an experiment. Put one on my entertainment center and one on my computer setup. Tracked the energy usage for a month with the smart plugs' energy monitoring feature.
Entertainment center was using 1.1 kWh per day on standby! That's about $40 per year at my electricity rate. The smart plug cost $15, so it paid for itself in less than 5 months.
The computer setup was less dramatic - about $15 per year in savings. Still worth it since the smart plug will last for years.
My advice: Start with one or two smart plugs on your biggest energy users, track the savings, then expand from there. That way you can see the actual smart home devices ROI before investing in a whole house full of them.
Don't forget about the safety aspect of smart plugs. I have one on my space heater that automatically turns off if I forget. Another on an iron that turns off after 30 minutes. These aren't really about smart plugs that reduce bills, but they prevent potential fires.
Also, consider smart power strips instead of individual plugs for entertainment centers. You can get a power strip that has both always-on outlets (for DVR/cable box that need constant power) and switched outlets (for TV, game consoles). This gives you more flexibility for smart home devices for savings.
My favorite use: I have a smart plug on my router/modem that automatically power cycles them if the internet goes down. Has saved me several service calls. Not exactly energy savings, but definitely a useful smart home purchase.
I've found that the scheduling feature is more valuable than just turning things off. My entertainment center smart plug turns on 30 minutes before I usually get home from work, so everything is ready when I walk in. Then it turns off at 11 PM automatically.
This ensures things aren't drawing power all day, but also provides convenience. The same with my coffee maker - turns on 10 minutes before my alarm, so coffee is ready when I wake up.
So smart plugs that reduce bills can also provide home automation for time management benefits. It's not just about the energy savings, but about creating automated routines that make life easier while saving money.
That dual benefit makes them some of the best money-saving smart home products in terms of overall value.