Do Smart Home Devices Use a Lot of Electricity?

Do Smart Home Devices Use a Lot of Electricity?

Most smart home devices use very little electricity on their own — their standby and active power draw is a fraction of the appliances they control. The question worth asking is whether smart home automation increases or decreases overall energy consumption in your home, not whether the smart devices themselves are a significant load.

Typical Power Consumption

• Smart plugs and switches: 0.5–2W in standby. Even 10 devices running continuously add less than 20W total — under $25/year at Ontario electricity rates
• Smart bulbs (LED): 7–10W per bulb when on, versus 60W for an equivalent incandescent. The smart radio adds negligible standby draw when the bulb is powered but the light is off
• Smart thermostats: 1–2W. Far less than the heating or cooling system they control, and typically reduce energy costs by optimizing schedules
• Smart speakers and hubs: 2–7W constantly. A hub that runs 24 hours uses roughly 50–60kWh per year — about $7–9 at Ontario’s Tier 1 residential rate

Net Effect on Your Bill

Smart home devices typically reduce electricity bills when they automate the control of high-consumption loads — HVAC, lighting, and EV charging scheduled to off-peak rates. Ontario’s time-of-use pricing means shifting an EV charge or laundry cycle to overnight off-peak can save more per year than all smart device standby loads combined. The devices themselves are not the energy story; what they control is.

Amir Azimipour

Electrician Since 2008 Journeyman Electrician Designated Master Electrician at EZSMART Corp