How to Reduce Your Smart Home’s Standby Power Usage
Smart home devices draw power even when “off,” and a house full of them adds up on the electric bill. Here’s how to cut standby power waste without losing smart features.
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In This Guide
Steps
Step 1: Identify Your Highest-Draw Standby Devices
Use a plug-in power meter to check which devices actually draw meaningful standby power — some smart devices draw negligible amounts while others (like certain hubs or set-top boxes) draw noticeably more.
Step 2: Group Low-Priority Devices on Smart Power Strips
Put devices that don’t need to stay “smart-ready” 24/7 (like TVs or gaming consoles) on a smart power strip that can fully cut power when not in use.
Step 3: Adjust Always-On Devices to Low-Power or Sleep Modes
Check device settings for a lower-power standby or eco mode — many smart displays and speakers offer this without fully disconnecting from your network.
Step 4: Schedule High-Draw Devices to Power Down Overnight
Use your smart home app to schedule non-essential devices to fully power off during hours you’re not using them, like overnight.
Step 5: Re-Audit Your Setup Every Few Months
New devices get added over time — periodically recheck standby draw across your full smart home setup rather than doing this once and forgetting it.
Tips
- ✅ Keep hub devices (that other devices depend on for connectivity) on a separate circuit from devices you plan to fully power down.
- ✅ Check your utility provider for time-of-use rates — scheduling high-draw tasks during off-peak hours can save more than reducing standby draw alone.
Warnings
⚠️ Fully cutting power to certain smart hubs can disconnect other devices that depend on them — map out device dependencies before adding anything to a smart power strip.
Q&A
Do smart plugs themselves use a lot of standby power?
Generally very little — the savings come primarily from cutting power to the higher-draw devices connected to them, not from the smart plug itself.
Is it worth buying a power meter just for this?
A basic plug-in power meter is inexpensive and gives concrete data rather than guessing — worthwhile if you have more than a handful of always-on devices.
Fact-checked based on public sources as of July 20, 2026.
