Incandescent bulbs, inefficient heaters, chargers, TV sets, basement lights left on – catch the power sippers out.

A study of Wisconsin households by Alliant Energy finds that most homes could save as much as $300 annually by unplugging the so-called “phantom” energy guzzlers says the Wisconsin State Journal. These are devices that are plugged in to power sockets but are not actually in use. However, modern monitors such as AI- and WiFi-enabled  Sense monitors are able to identify them.

These always-on power sippers include wireless internet routers, televisions, mobile chargers, computers, UPS, even DVD players not used in six months.

Startling statistics

• The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) found in 2015 that appliances in standby mode account for 25% of all domestic power consumption in the US.
• Even though competing, renewable energies such as solar and wind have become dramatically cheaper in recent years, the biggest energy saver is to cut consumption by switching off devices when possible. This simple act saves money and cuts greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, according to Steve Kihm, chief economist for the Madison-based nonprofit consulting firm Slipstream.
• Cadmus, a Madison-based utility and the consulting firm Cadmus determined that most customers can cut their overall use by 9% by identifying and cutting phantom devices. Monitoring devices to achieve this, such as Sense, which utilizes artificial intelligence, are available off-the-shelf to consumers.
• The NRDC study estimated that consumers could save $8 billion in bills and 44 million tons of GHG by simply cutting idle load.

Sense: New devices, new controls

Alliant deployed the AI-enabled Sense monitors across 100 Wisconsin homes in a 2018 study. By the end of this year the study will cover 300 homes.

These Wi-Fi enabled monitors hook into the mains and measure the consumption of electricity by each device in the house. They do this by recognizing the wave forms or “signatures” of the electronic devices.

The data displayed by the Sense monitors makes home-owners even more conscious of wasteful energy consumption under their roof.

Prior to installation of the monitors, 86% of participants said they regularly turned off lights in rooms that were not in use.

After installing the Sense monitors, that figure went up to 97%.

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