Summary: A recent Bloomberg report claims that over 20 million households in the USA are behind on their electric bills in accordance with the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA). One of the reasons behind this was the 15.2 percent hike in energy charges in the summer of 2021. With some everyday home appliances more energy-guzzling than others, knowing the electric consumption of each is crucial to saving on your monthly bills. In this blog post, we’ll reveal the biggest electricity users and how to use them properly to avoid breaking the bank.
Outline:
- Air Conditioning and Heating
- Water Heating
- Refrigerator/Fridge
- Dryer and Washer
- Electric Stove and Oven
- Dishwasher
- Lighting
- TV and Media Equipment
- Conclusion
Air Conditioning and Heating
Your HVAC unit uses the most electricity of any single home appliance at 46% of the average household’s energy consumption. And this is not surprising at all. An average central heating and cooling unit uses 3500 watts and runs 2 to 3 times an hour for ten to fifteen minutes. Your HVAC unit uses approximately 28 to 63 kWh a day, totaling about 850 to 1, 950kWh per month. However, it entirely depends on the unit’s efficiency.
You can lessen the workload of your heating and cooling unit by simply using ceiling fans instead—clockwise in the winter and counterclockwise in the hot season. Turn your thermostat to 78℉ in summertime and 65℉ in the winter months. You can also save energy by having the AC and furnace tuned yearly. Drawing drapes during the summer can make a huge difference too. Moreover, replace air filters and avoid blocking inside vents to minimize AC consumption.
Water Heating
The water heater is an often-used home appliance and comes next at 14% of the total household energy consumption. It runs about three hours daily and uses 4500 watts, which is up to 13.5 kilowatts a day or 405 kilowatts a month. If you want to save energy when using a water heater, set its temperature to 120℉ or lower. Insulating hot water pipes and wrapping an outdated water heater with insulation jackets also help reduce the consumption of electricity. Make sure to turn down the water heater after use and try to upgrade to a solar water heater.
Refrigerator/Fridge
An average fridge consumes 225 watts and assuming you use your fridge all day, you will consume 162 kilowatts a month. Turning this appliance off or using it less often is just not doable at all. However, you can take some energy-saving steps such as avoiding overloading the refrigerator, arranging the contents for utmost efficiency, and keeping the most-used items in easy-to-access areas. You can also set the unit to the manufacturer’s recommended temperature setting as well as clean it underneath and behind to maintain airflow.
Dryer and Washer
Dryers and washers collectively consume 5% of your household’s total energy. These home appliances cumulatively consume 3045 watts. Using them for sixty minutes daily will consume about 92 kilowatts a month. You can reduce the dryer and washer’s energy consumption by washing full loads and with cold water, clearing the lift after every load, avoiding overfilling, and using drying racks when needed.
Electric Stove and Oven
Using a stove at 1,500 watts and an oven at 2,500 on mid-high heat one hour a day consumes 75 kilowatts and 45 kilowatts per month, respectively. These appliances, especially the oven, can make your home warmer and boost the load on your air conditioner unit. Lessen the electric load from these units by using a microwave, toaster oven, slow cooker, or other smaller kitchen appliances. It’s better to use the stove and oven during cooler hours and avoid preheating unless the meal must be cooked quickly.
Dishwasher
The dishwasher consumes 330 watts. Used for 60 minutes a day, it will chomp almost 10 kilowatts a month. Also, this appliance can affect how hard the AC unit needs to work since it can make your home warmer. To save on energy bills, wash full loads during cooler times, switch off heated dry, and pre-rinse heavily dirt dishes to avoid the need for another cycle.
Lighting
Home lighting accounts for approximately 9% of total home energy consumption. Light bulbs’ energy consumption can vary widely based on the type of bulb and usage. A 100-watt incandescent bulk on for two hours per day consumes about 0.2 kilowatts per day or 6 kilowatts a month. Add up to approximately 50 bulbs in the household, and it totals 300 kilowatts per month.
You can save energy by turning the lights off when leaving your room or using energy-efficient LED bulbs. It’s also recommended to opt for natural light, particularly in winter. What’s more, choose LED holiday lights and put them on timers. It will also help if you set up motion detectors on outdoor security lights, so they activate when they sense motion.
TV and Media Equipment
Home electronics make up approximately four percent of your home energy use. Electronic entertainment like TVs, video game consoles, and set-top boxes can use a considerable portion of your home’s energy. If you use your TV for 5 hours per day and play video games for 6 hours per week, these electronics can consume 55 kilowatts a month. And believe it or not, using them on standby power even if idle or not in use can cause your bills to rise. Thus, deactivate the standby mode and quick start settings. It’s also recommended to buy energy-star certified electronics and turn down the TV screen and monitor’s brightness. Most importantly, always switch off the appliances after using them and opt for more energy-free entertainment activities like board games and reading.
Conclusion
Have you recently noticed an inexplicable increase in your power bills despite using the same home appliances for the same hours a day? There might be something wrong with them, which requires a checkup or repair. If that’s the case, then call a reliable appliance repair company like On Point Service Company. Our team of certified technicians offer a complete range of appliance repair services in Waco, TX and the nearby areas. For several years now, we have been providing excellent yet affordable washing machine, TV, and air conditioner repair services.Call us today for a free quote!
