Khaberni - While millions around the world strive to reduce rising living costs by turning off unnecessary lights, energy experts have unveiled an "invisible enemy" lurking in living rooms, continuously draining electricity and money even in an ostensibly off state; these are the video game consoles "PlayStation and Xbox".
Experts' consensus: The always "awake" device
In a survey conducted by Express.co.uk, five top electricity sector specialists agreed that gaming platforms are the "prime culprit" in household energy waste. The reason isn't just their operating time, but also their tendency to remain in "standby" mode, where these devices stay active behind the scenes to support digital luxury features.
Why do they consume energy while "turned off"?
Experts for "Mirror" explained that these devices don't really sleep; they remain on constant alert for:
Automatic updates: Downloading games and software in the background.
Cloud connection: Synchronizing save data over the internet.
Quick start feature: Staying ready to launch in seconds.
Charging accessories: Powering controllers through USB ports.
The "standby" tax: £30 annually
Mika Jackson-Satler, head of a leading electrical company, describes gaming devices as the "biggest energy drainers", pointing out that their cumulative consumption clearly shows in monthly bills.
For his part, Martin Fowler, a renewable energy expert, put a shocking figure on this phenomenon; he confirmed that device consumption in standby mode ranges between 10 to 15 watts, which could add about £30 (approximately $40) annually to the household bill without the user even touching the device once.
Experts' advice: "Unplug the socket"
Megan Dosser and Nick Barber agree that the solution does not only lie in pressing the off button, but in completely disconnecting the device from the electrical socket when not in use, as staying connected means ongoing background processing, which turns a gaming platform from an entertainment tool into a "black hole" swallowing the family's budget.
