Entertainment appliances, computers and home office equipment can significantly add to your energy bills, especially if left running for 24 hours a day. Together, these appliances account for around 14% of an average home’s energy use.
To minimise the cost of running home entertainment appliances, computers and office equipment, turn the appliances off at the wall when you’re not using them to reduce stand-by power.
Using entertainment appliances
Entertainment appliances include things like televisions, DVD players, sound systems and gaming consoles.
Even though many of these appliances are often small, the amount of energy they use individually can add up quickly. For example, when you use a gaming console, you pay for both the electricity to run the gaming console and the electricity to run the television. Some large screen televisions use more energy in a year than a family fridge. Having the television on for 10 hours a day could cost as much as $350 per year.
Consider turning entertainment appliances off at the wall when you’ve finished using them or if you’re leaving them unused for more than 10 minutes.
Using computers and office equipment
Laptop computers are designed to use less electricity than desktop computers. The amount of electricity used by a computer or laptop will vary depending on its specifications and what it is used for. A basic computer designed for word processing will use less electricity than a high-end computer designed for video editing or gaming.
When calculating running costs, remember to include the energy used by monitors, speakers, or any other devices used with the computer.
Other office equipment can include printers, modems and routers, cordless telephones and photocopiers. Some of these appliances, such as printers, can be turned on when they need to be used and off again at the wall to save energy. For appliances that need to be left on at all times, consider purchasing lower wattage appliances to help keep energy costs down.
Home entertainment and office appliances running costs
If you’re buying a new appliance, use the energy rating label to help choose the most energy efficient model. The more stars the better. You can also compare the estimated running costs of new appliances on the Energy Rating website.
The tables below can help you work out the cost of running the appliances you currently have in your home.
Televisions
Some households leave a television on as background noise, even when no one is watching it. While televisions have a reasonably low hourly running cost, the extra time it is left on adds to the overall amount of energy used in your home. Based on a television being on for 10 hours per day, the typical costs provided below are for a quarter (90 days), which is a typical electricity billing period.
| Screen size | Type of television | Typical watts | Hourly cost | Quarterly cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
19-35 inches | LED | 18-123 | $0.006-$0.04 | $5.40-$36.00 |
LCD | 21-144 | $0.007-$0.05 | $6.30-$45.00 | |
35-43 inches | LED | 38-195 | $0.01-$0.07 | $9.00-$63.00 |
LCD | 53-253 | $0.02-$0.09 | $18.00-$81.00 | |
Plasma | 88-290 | $0.03-$0.10 | $27.00-$90.00 | |
43-59 inches | LED | 52-255 | $0.02-$0.09 | $18.00-$81.00 |
LCD | 69-355 | $0.02-$0.12 | $18.00-$108.00 | |
Plasma | 94-399 | $0.03-$0.14 | $27.00-$126.00 |
Older television models
| Screen size | Type of television | Typical watts | Hourly cost | Quarterly cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
34-35cm | CRT | 36-65 | $0.01-$0.02 | $9.00-$18.00 |
51cm | CRT | 46-82 | $0.02-$0.03 | $18.00-$27.00 |
Greater than 42 inches (2009 models) | Plasma | 150-420 | $0.05-$0.15 | $45.00-$135.00 |
LCD | 100-275 | $0.03-$0.10 | $27.00-$90.00 |
Other entertainment and office appliances
| Appliance | Typical watts | Hourly running cost |
|---|---|---|
Desktop computer | 17-163 | $0.006-$0.06 |
Laptop | 10-38 | $0.003-$0.01 |
Printer (basic – multi-function) | 25-1200 | $0.008-$0.42 |
Cordless phone | less than 5 | $0.002 |
Mobile phone charger | less than 5 | $0.002 |
DVD player | 10-35 | $0.003-$0.01 |
Digital set-top box | 5.4-20 | $0.002-$0.007 |
Game console | 15-200 | $0.005-$0.07 |
Note: Estimated running costs are based on the AGL electricity and Origin Energy standing retail contracts. For further methodology information, please contact the Energy Advisory Service.
Related information
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Other websites
- Energy Star - find out about certified energy efficient products that can help save you money
