In summer, with high temperatures, one of the main concerns for citizens is the electricity bill. Curiously, the air conditioner doesn’t seem to be the appliance that consumes the most electricity in homes. Apparently, it’s the mobile phone charger, a completely common device. We’re not talking about consumption while charging the phone, but rather while we leave it plugged in and leave the house. This seemingly simple action is consuming more energy than we think. In fact, this has a name: phantom power usage, which carries financial and, obviously, environmental impacts.
Mobile chargers are among the most common sources of phantom power consumption
It’s not just the impact this could have on citizens’ wallets, but the combined costs that make the increase exponential. If we consider that a charger plugged into the mains, without being connected to a mobile phone, consumes an average of 0.00002 kWh. And that on average, it spends 16 hours connected (minus the 8 hours we spend sleeping with the phone charging), we’ll spend an average of 0.12 euros per year.
Mobile chargers are among the most common sources of phantom power consumption. According to organizations such as the Energy Saving Trust and Natural Resources Canada, leaving the charger plugged in over the course of a year would equate to an additional consumption of between 5 and 10 kWh, roughly the same as leaving the television on for 50 to 100 hours.
There’s also a potential fire hazard if the charger overheats or sparks near flammable materials
Beyond energy consumption, keeping chargers constantly plugged in has other downsides. The continuous flow of electricity causes slight heating, which over time can degrade the charger’s internal components, shortening its lifespan and increasing the need for replacements. Even though the new smartphone chargers stop charging when the battery is full, it is advisable not to leave it connected overnight. In some cases, especially with low-quality or defective models, there’s also a potential fire hazard if the charger overheats or sparks near flammable materials — a bigger risk at night.
It’s not just about the energy consumption; when you plug in your phone, the charge can be unstable, which reduces the device’s battery capacity. All lithium batteries have a limited number of charges, and this affects their lifespan.
Not leaving your phone charging overnight could save you 5% on your monthly bill
Furthermore, as reported by the International Energy Agency (IDEA), not leaving your phone charging overnight could save you 5% on your monthly electricity bill. In short, this simple act of removing the phone charger can save you some money and avoid the aforementioned complications.
Finally, it’s important to remember that global warming is a reality. Therefore, every small action we can take to avoid consuming more energy than necessary will always be beneficial. In addition to properly recycling cardboard, plastic, glass, and organic waste, unplugging some electrical outlets and appliances can be a great help. Just as we unplug the refrigerator when we go away for a couple of weeks, unplugging other appliances can relieve the generators, not to mention the safety of avoiding short circuits while we’re away from home.
