Reduce electrical appliance energy costs

Other appliances use 12% of UK domestic electrical energy.

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The list and versatility of electrical appliances increases each year, they all consume electricity. A few need to be left on continually, but the vast majority should turned off at the wall socket when not in use. It can be surprising how many small appliances 'leak' electrical energy.

There is an argument to the effect that electrical appliances should each be supplied with a warning label, 'Using this equipment threatens global warming, use it sparingly'.

Much electrical equipment has one or more standby modes. Manufacturers are being persuaded to make their equipment, and especially the standby mode, more energy efficient. Older equipment is often very energy inefficient, especially in standby mode. The author has some stereo equipment that, in standby mode, consumes more than 60% of the energy it uses when being used.

What can I do to reduce electrical appliance energy cost?

Turn all appliances off when they are not being used, the amount of electricity used by appliances is surprising.
Do not leave appliances on standby. It is estimated that electrical equipment typical power consumption uses 5% of total domestic electricity. If any appliance has a power module that plugs into a wall or is a separate unit, this typically costs £4 a year even if the appliance is turned off. If you have a number of telephones a rechargeable TV and an electric toothbrush unplug them or switch them off at the wall socket when not in use.
Computer equipment, computer speakers, LCD monitors and printers consume a surprisingly high amount of energy when shut down. Power them via a switched outlet or a switched power strip. A typical computer system costs £40 a year in standby mode or in shut down mode. A laptop charger costs typically £4 per year when plugged into the main supply but not connected to the laptop.
Central heating control systems typically continually consume 50 to 70watts, this costs around £50 a year to run. In the UK heating is seldom required in the summer, when the system is not heating water, and especially if you are away from home for days or weeks, turn the system off.
Newer appliances are far more efficient than older ones, manufacturers continually work on energy efficiency improvements and manufacturers guidelines are being tightened.