Practical examples of unplugging chargers and devices that actually save energy

Everyday home examples of unplugging chargers and devices

Let’s start where most of your outlets live: at home. Some of the best examples of unplugging chargers and devices are the ones you can literally see from your couch.

Think about phone chargers first. A single charger doesn’t use a ton of power on its own, but many households have a small army of them—by the bed, in the kitchen, by the sofa, in the home office. A simple example of cutting that waste is keeping one shared charging station in a central spot and unplugging the power strip when everyone’s phones are done. Instead of five chargers sipping power 24/7, you’ve got one strip that’s off most of the day.

Another everyday example of unplugging chargers and devices is with tablets and e‑readers. These devices don’t need to be plugged in constantly. A realistic routine is to plug them in once or twice a week, charge them fully, then unplug both the device and the charger from the wall. You avoid the slow, constant trickle of standby power and extend the battery’s life at the same time.

Game consoles and streaming boxes are another big category. Many of them draw standby power even when you think they’re “off.” A practical example of unplugging here is to plug the console, TV, and streaming box into a single power strip. When you’re done watching or gaming for the night, flip the strip off. The devices stay plugged in physically, but the power is cut—no crawling behind the TV every time.

Kitchen and laundry examples of unplugging chargers and devices

The kitchen is full of tiny energy leaks. Some of the best examples of unplugging chargers and devices aren’t about chargers at all, but small appliances with clocks and indicator lights.

A common example: the coffee maker with a glowing clock. If you only brew once a day, you don’t need that clock lit up 24/7. You can plug it into a small power strip on the counter and switch it off after your morning coffee. Same goes for the toaster oven, air fryer, and stand mixer. When they’re not in use, flip the strip or unplug the plug. Over a year, that small habit can save a noticeable chunk of standby power.

In the laundry area, older washers and dryers sometimes draw a bit of standby power for displays and sensors. One realistic example of unplugging here is to unplug the washer and dryer if you only do laundry once a week. Many people already treat laundry as a weekend ritual; adding a quick unplug at the end of the last load fits naturally into that routine.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, devices that draw power even when turned off—often called “vampire” or “phantom” loads—can account for 5–10% of household electricity use in typical homes.¹ Unplugging unused devices and chargers, or shutting them off at a strip, is one of the simplest ways to trim that waste.

Work-from-home and office examples of unplugging chargers and devices

Since 2020, many of us have turned dining tables and spare rooms into offices. That shift created a new cluster of always-plugged-in gear: laptops, monitors, printers, speakers, and phone chargers.

One practical example of unplugging chargers and devices in a home office is to group everything on two power strips: one for “everyday work gear” (laptop dock, monitor, speakers) and one for “occasional gear” (printer, scanner, label maker). At the end of the workday, you switch off the everyday strip. The occasional strip stays off unless you actually need the printer. This single habit can cut a surprising amount of standby power.

Another real example: laptop chargers. Many people leave the charger plugged into the wall 24/7, even when the laptop is in a bag or another room. A simple shift is to unplug the charger at the wall when you disconnect the laptop. Some people keep the charger in a small basket or drawer right next to the outlet so it becomes natural: unplug from laptop, unplug from wall, drop in basket.

In shared offices, facilities teams are increasingly using smart plugs and timers to manage this automatically. For instance, a row of desks might be wired to smart strips that turn off at 7 p.m. and back on at 7 a.m. That’s a scaled-up example of unplugging chargers and devices—same idea, just managed by software instead of individuals.

Smart plugs: modern examples of unplugging without actually unplugging

If you hate physically unplugging cords, you’re not alone. One of the best modern examples of unplugging chargers and devices uses smart plugs and smart power strips instead of your hands.

You plug a charger, lamp, or TV into a smart plug, then control the plug from an app or voice assistant. The device is still physically connected, but when the plug is “off,” it’s as if you pulled it from the wall.

Here are a few realistic scenarios:

• A smart plug for your phone charging station that turns off automatically at midnight and back on at 6 a.m. Your phones don’t sit on a live charger all night, and you don’t have to remember a thing.
• A smart strip behind the entertainment center that powers down the game console, streaming box, and soundbar after 30 minutes of inactivity.
• A smart plug on your space heater or window AC unit that cuts power completely when you leave the room or house.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR program highlights that advanced power strips can significantly reduce standby power in entertainment centers and home offices by automatically cutting power to devices that aren’t in active use.² Think of smart plugs and advanced strips as “high-tech examples of unplugging chargers and devices” that fit modern habits.

Travel and on-the-go examples of unplugging chargers and devices

Energy-saving habits don’t have to stop at your front door. Some of the most memorable examples of unplugging chargers and devices actually happen when you travel.

In hotels, many people plug in phones, laptops, and camera batteries and then leave the chargers in the outlet even after the device is fully charged. A simple travel rule is: unplug the charger when you pack the device. When the phone goes into your bag, the charger comes out of the wall. That way, you don’t leave a slow energy leak behind in every room you stay in.

Another example is at airports and coworking spaces. When you’re done charging at a public outlet, take the extra second to unplug the brick from the socket. It’s a tiny act, but repeated by thousands of travelers, it prevents a whole lot of chargers from sitting there powered and idle all day.

If you use a portable power bank, there’s another angle: charge the bank fully, then unplug the wall charger until the next time you actually need it. Many people leave the power bank and its wall charger permanently plugged in, which means the charger draws power constantly.

Family and roommate examples of unplugging chargers and devices as a shared habit

Unplugging is much easier when the people you live with are on board. Some of the best examples of unplugging chargers and devices come from families and roommate groups who turn it into a shared game instead of a nagging chore.

One family example: a “last one out” rule. Whoever is last to leave the living room at night flips the entertainment power strip off. Same for the home office. It becomes part of the nighttime routine, like turning off the lights or locking the door.

Another real example is a charger basket by the door or in the kitchen. Everyone drops their chargers there instead of leaving them dangling from outlets all over the house. In the evening, someone checks the basket and makes sure the power strip feeding it is off. You get two wins: less clutter and fewer phantom loads.

Parents sometimes turn unplugging into a kids’ challenge: if the kids do a weekly “plug patrol” and find all the unused chargers and glowing standby lights, they earn a small reward. It sounds silly, but it teaches energy awareness early and makes unplugging a normal part of life.

How much does unplugging really save? A realistic look

Let’s be honest: unplugging chargers alone won’t slash your bill in half. But as part of a bigger energy-saving mindset, it absolutely helps.

Studies and estimates from the Department of Energy suggest that standby power can account for dozens of watts running continuously in a typical home.¹ That might translate to \(50–\)100 per year on a U.S. household’s electric bill, depending on local rates and how many devices you own.

Here’s how examples of unplugging chargers and devices contribute to that:

• Phone, tablet, and laptop chargers: each might draw only a small amount in standby, but multiplied by several chargers and 24 hours a day, it adds up.
• Entertainment center gear: game consoles, streaming boxes, soundbars, and TVs can draw more noticeable standby power, especially if they’re older models.
• Office equipment: printers, monitors, speakers, and docks often sit unused for long stretches but stay awake enough to respond instantly.

The bigger picture: unplugging is a behavioral gateway habit. Once you get used to it, you tend to notice other savings opportunities—like adjusting your thermostat a couple of degrees, running full laundry loads, or swapping out old bulbs for LEDs. Those bigger moves stack with your unplugging habits.

The International Energy Agency has highlighted that behavior changes—like turning off unused devices and managing standby power—are a meaningful piece of the puzzle in reducing energy use and emissions worldwide.³ Your small examples of unplugging chargers and devices fit into that global story.

Simple ways to remember to unplug

The hardest part is not the act of unplugging; it’s remembering to do it. Here are a few realistic strategies, based on real examples of unplugging chargers and devices that actually stick:

• Tie unplugging to a routine you already have. When you brush your teeth at night, you also flip the bedroom strip off. When you make morning coffee, you unplug the coffee maker afterward.
• Use visual cues. A small sticker by the outlet or a colored power strip can remind you, “Hey, this is one of my unplug zones.”
• Automate where you can. Smart plugs with schedules or occupancy sensors can handle the task for your worst offenders.
• Start with one room. Instead of trying to fix your whole house at once, focus on the living room this week, the office next week, and so on.

Over time, these examples of unplugging chargers and devices stop feeling like “extra work” and start feeling like the normal way you close down a room.

FAQ: Real-world questions about unplugging chargers and devices

Does unplugging phone chargers really make a difference?
Yes, especially when you have several chargers scattered around the house. A single charger’s standby use is small, but multiple chargers running 24/7 add up over months. The best examples of unplugging chargers and devices focus on clusters—like a charging station, office area, or entertainment center—so you cut several standby loads at once.

What are some quick examples of devices I should unplug first?
Good starting examples include: phone and tablet chargers that aren’t actively charging, the coffee maker and toaster oven after breakfast, the entertainment center via a power strip, and office gear like printers and speakers that you only use occasionally. These are classic examples of unplugging chargers and devices that give you steady savings with almost no downside.

Is using a power strip the same as unplugging?
If the strip has a switch and you turn it off, it’s effectively the same as unplugging everything from the wall. This is one of the most convenient examples of unplugging chargers and devices without actually pulling cords every day. Just make sure the strip itself doesn’t have always-on features like USB ports that stay live when the switch is off.

Do modern devices still use much standby power?
Many newer devices are better than older ones, but standby power hasn’t disappeared. Anything with a remote, a clock, a status light, or “instant on” features usually draws some power while “off.” That’s why examples of unplugging chargers and devices still matter in 2024 and 2025, especially for entertainment and office gear.

Is there an example of a simple rule to follow at home?
One easy rule is: If it’s not doing a job, it doesn’t need to be plugged in. That means unplugging idle chargers, turning off strips in rooms you’re not using, and letting smart plugs cut power to gear that doesn’t need to stay on. It’s a simple example of how to think about unplugging without obsessing over every watt.

When you look at all these real examples side by side, a pattern emerges: you don’t need perfection to make a difference. A few smart examples of unplugging chargers and devices—in the rooms you use most, at the times you’re already switching gears—are enough to lower your bill, reduce waste, and make your home just a little more intentional.

[1] U.S. Department of Energy – Energy Saver: Identifying and Managing Home Energy Use: https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/articles/identifying-and-managing-home-energy-use
[2] ENERGY STAR – Ask the Expert: Advanced Power Strips: https://www.energystar.gov/products/ask-the-expert/advanced-power-strips
[3] International Energy Agency – Energy Efficiency 2023: https://www.iea.org/reports/energy-efficiency-2023