In our ultra-connected homes, chargers are now part of the decor. On the bedside table, in the kitchen, at the desk… they often remain plugged in even when the phone isn’t there. But this seemingly inconsequential habit actually hides several unsuspected drawbacks.
Let’s see why it’s time to revisit this routine.
Continuous energy consumption, even without a phone
Contrary to popular belief, a plugged-in charger consumes electricity, even if it isn’t charging any devices. Of course, the individual consumption of a charger is low ( around 1.5 kWh per year for a standard charger ), but multiply this figure by the number of chargers in a house… and by the number of households in France!
The result? Kilowatt-hours added to your electricity bill each year and a growing carbon footprint, all for… nothing.
And be careful: uncertified chargers , often cheap, can consume up to 10 to 20 times more energy . Enough to make the bill even higher.
A fire risk not to be neglected
Another important point: safety. Even if chargers that comply with European standards pass rigorous tests, an electrical device left plugged in continuously is never completely risk-free.
Overheating can occur if the charger is buried under clothing, pillows, or books. And with poor-quality or worn-out models, the danger is very real. Every year, household incidents are linked to devices left plugged in unattended.
It is therefore better not to tempt fate: a simple act of unplugging is enough to eliminate this risk.
