Always On: What is it?

Most homes have devices that stay plugged in but not "on," contributing 20–30% of energy costs. Think smart home gadgets, TVs, and gaming consoles. These “vampire loads” might be sipping energy, but the costs can stack up.

The Cost of Always On

In Sense homes, the average Always On load is 251W, but it varies—a few homes even hit five-digit levels! These sneaky devices can cost $165–$308 or more annually.

Common Always On Energy Users (Average Watt Usage):

• Desktop computer: 21W
• Set-top box: 43W
• Game console: 23W

Reducing Always On could mean real savings for your wallet and the planet.

Note: Because Always On is calculated in the Sense Home app as an average over a 24-48 hour period, it can occasionally include consumption from devices that you may not typically consider as “vampire” loads, like a space heater left running during a cold spell.

How to Spot Always On Devices

Use the Sense Home app to track Always On energy use: Look into Always On at your Devices tab. Sense may not have detected some Always On devices, but a little detective work can help identify a lot of what is always on and what it is costing.

Tell Sense about the Always On devices you are aware of by using the "Add Always On Device" button. You can add details in a number of ways:

1. 1. Check manufacturer specs for standby power estimates to add to the Always On listing.
   2. Use Watt Check to measure the wattage used by suspected devices when inactive, then add that info to the Always On listing.
   3. Use smart plugs to monitor individual device consumption. With smart plugs (and dedicated circuits when available), Sense can detect a device's Always On load automatically.