“Energy-saving plugs”, additionally known as sensible or eco plugs, have sparked warnings from consultants.
A harmful energy-saving gadget UK households should keep away from has been revealed – as a result of it might begin fires and doesn’t prevent cash. “Energy-saving plugs”, additionally known as sensible or eco plugs, have sparked warnings from consultants.
“So called ‘energy saving’ plugs claim to save you money on your electricity bills, but when we carried out extensive tests on devices from a range of online marketplaces, we found zero evidence that they work,” said Andrew Laughlin, Which? Tech Expert.
“Even worse, these devices are often dangerous – the ones we checked were so poorly constructed that they failed to meet even basic electrical safety standards.”
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“It’s therefore incredibly concerning to see that these scam eco-plugs are still widely available on many online marketplaces, and we’d strongly advise against purchasing them,” he added.
Which? tested eight energy-saving plugs from AliExpress, Amazon, eBay, Shein, Temu and TikTok shop earlier this year.
It found that the items they tested had poor quality soldering and contained too much lead. Be wary of what you buy online, especially from ads on social media.
If you see an ad which has a misleading claim or product, then report it to the platform it is being sold on and to your local trading standards office.
“If you’re looking to reduce your energy usage, look at ways to use your appliances more efficiently,” says Laughlin. He also suggests using “eco settings” on your appliances if they have them.
Also consider turning off power-hungry devices like wireless speakers or soundbars when they are not in use. “Small changes like these can quickly add up,” Laughlin added.
Siobhan Blagbrough, the financial crime manager at Ocean Finance, has also issued a warning.
“These scams usually involve plug-in devices, magnetic meters, or ‘voltage regulators’ that claim to cut household bills by 30% or more. The marketing is slick, often coming with fake Trustpilot reviews or phoney ‘expert endorsements’, but the devices either do nothing or can actually be unsafe,” she says.