Umair Gaines
Understanding your electrical usage can help you save money and reduce your environmental footprint. There are several ways to calculate your electricity consumption, including using an electricity usage monitor, which can be purchased at most hardware stores for around $25-$50. These devices can measure the electricity usage of any device that runs on 120 volts. You can also calculate your energy consumption manually by estimating the number of hours an appliance runs per day and multiplying its wattage by the number of hours it is used. Another way to understand your electrical usage is to open your electrical panel and measure the draw on each circuit to identify which circuits are drawing the most power.
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What You'll Learn
- Energy-saving tips: cut back on heating/cooling, turn off lights, and unplug electronics
- Energy-efficient appliances: swap old devices for energy-saving models, like ENERGY STAR
- Energy monitors: buy a device to measure the electricity usage of any appliance
- Energy audits: open your electrical panel and measure the draw on each circuit
- Calculating power consumption: estimate the number of hours an appliance runs, and use formulas to calculate costs
Energy-saving tips: cut back on heating/cooling, turn off lights, and unplug electronics
Heating and cooling systems, lights, and electronics are some of the biggest sources of electricity consumption in residential homes. Here are some tips to reduce energy usage and save on energy bills:
Cut back on heating/cooling
- Set your thermostat to 78°F in the summer and 68°F in the winter.
- When you are asleep or away from home, turn the thermostat back or adjust it using a smart thermostat to save on heating and cooling bills.
- Seal air leaks around doors and windows with caulk or weatherstripping.
- Open curtains on south-facing windows during the day to let in sunlight and close them at night to reduce the chill.
- Plant deciduous trees on the south side of your home to let in light and warmth during the winter and provide shade in the summer.
Turn off lights
- Turn off lights when you don't need them to reduce your electricity bills and extend the life of your light bulbs.
- Consider investing in smart light bulbs that can be set to turn on and off at certain times.
- Switch to LED light bulbs, which use 75% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last much longer.
Unplug electronics
- Unplug electronics when they are not in use, as they can draw power even when on standby.
- Get into the habit of unplugging small kitchen appliances, such as electric can openers and coffee makers.
- Purchase an adapter with auto shut-off to prevent overcharging and prolong the life of your devices.
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Energy-efficient appliances: swap old devices for energy-saving models, like ENERGY STAR
Energy-efficient appliances are a great way to reduce your electricity usage and save on energy bills. Here are some ways to swap out old devices for energy-saving models, like ENERGY STAR products:
Identify Energy-Intensive Appliances
Start by identifying the appliances that consume the most electricity. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), air conditioning, space heating, and water heating are the top sources of electricity consumption in residential U.S. homes, accounting for 43.5% of energy usage. Other common energy-intensive appliances include refrigerators, electric clothes dryers, central air conditioners, TVs, computers, and game consoles.
Estimate Appliance Electricity Usage
You can estimate the electricity usage of your appliances in a few ways:
- Review the Energy Guide Label: Many appliances have an Energy Guide label that provides an estimate of their average energy consumption and operating costs.
- Use an Electricity Usage Monitor: You can purchase an electricity usage monitor to measure the electricity usage of any device that runs on 120 volts. Plug the monitor into the electrical outlet, then plug the device into the monitor to get a reading.
- Calculate Annual Energy Consumption: You can also calculate the annual energy consumption of an appliance by estimating the number of hours it runs per day and using formulas provided by resources like the Department of Energy.
Choose Energy-Efficient Appliances
When it's time to replace an appliance, look for energy-efficient models, such as those with the ENERGY STAR certification. Products with this certification meet strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ENERGY STAR-certified appliances consume less electricity, helping you save energy and money. For example, ENERGY STAR washers and dryers use 20% less energy than non-certified models.
Other Energy-Saving Tips
In addition to swapping out old appliances, you can also:
- Turn off lights and unplug electronics when not in use.
- Adjust your thermostat settings: Set your thermostat to 78°F in the summer and 68°F in the winter. When you're away from home, adjust the setting to avoid heating or cooling an empty house.
- Lower your water heater temperature to 120°F to reduce electricity usage and slow buildup and corrosion in your water heater and pipes.
- Switch to LED light bulbs, which use 75% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last much longer.
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Energy monitors: buy a device to measure the electricity usage of any appliance
Energy monitors are small devices that can be installed in your circuit breaker panel to help you understand your energy usage. They are available at most hardware stores for $25 to $50. These devices can help you identify which appliances are the heaviest users of energy and when they cost the most to run.
Energy monitors can be used to measure the electricity usage of any device that runs on 120 volts. To use an energy monitor, simply plug the monitor into the electrical outlet and then plug the device into the monitor. The monitor will then display the number of watts the device is using. If you want to know the number of kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity the device uses, you can leave the setup as is and check the display later.
Some energy monitors, like the one offered by Powersensor, can be connected to your Wi-Fi and provide real-time data on your energy usage. The data can be accessed through a mobile app, which also provides insights on how to increase your energy efficiency.
It is important to note that energy monitors cannot be used with large appliances that use 220 volts, such as electric clothes dryers, central air conditioners, or water heaters. Additionally, it may take more than a year to truly measure whether and how an energy monitor can make a difference in your energy consumption.
By using an energy monitor, you can gain valuable insights into your energy usage and make informed decisions to reduce your electricity bill and carbon footprint.
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Energy audits: open your electrical panel and measure the draw on each circuit
Energy audits can be a great way to understand your electrical usage and identify areas where you can cut back. To do this, you will need to locate your main service panel, which is usually a grey, brown, or white metal box mounted on a wall in a utility area. It may also be enclosed in a cabinet in a finished living space, but it must be easily accessible.
Once you have located the panel, open the metal door and you will see the individual circuit breakers. These control the individual branch circuits running through your home. To measure the draw on each circuit, you can use a clamp-on amp meter, which can be clamped around the individual feed wires from the breakers without needing to disconnect anything. You can also buy or make a splitter device to measure individual loads without opening the panel.
If you want to measure the total amp draw, you will need to open the panel and find the feed conductor, being very careful while doing so. You can also use a clamp-on amp meter to measure the current through a single conductor.
Alternatively, you can use an electricity usage monitor, which can be purchased at most hardware stores for around $25-$50. These can be plugged into an electrical outlet, and then the device you want to measure can be plugged into the monitor. This will display the number of watts the device is using, and you can leave it set up to measure the kilowatt-hours (kWh) used over time.
Another way to estimate your electrical usage is to calculate the wattage of your appliances. This can often be found stamped on the appliance, usually on the bottom, back, or nameplate. If not, you can estimate it by finding the electrical current draw in amperes and multiplying it by the voltage used by the appliance.
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Calculating power consumption: estimate the number of hours an appliance runs, and use formulas to calculate costs
To calculate the power consumption of an appliance, you need to know two things: the wattage of the appliance and the number of hours it is being used (operational hours).
The wattage of an appliance is usually stamped on the bottom or back of the appliance, or on its nameplate. If the wattage is not listed, you can estimate it by multiplying the electrical current draw (in amperes) by the voltage used by the appliance. Most appliances in the United States use 120 volts.
To estimate the number of hours an appliance runs, you can either make a rough estimate based on how much you use the appliance each day, or keep a log of usage for some appliances. For example, if you watch 4 hours of television every day, you can use that number. For a refrigerator, which is always turned on, you can divide the total time it is plugged in by three, as it cycles on and off to maintain interior temperatures.
Once you know the wattage and the number of hours of usage, you can calculate power consumption by multiplying these two numbers. For example, a 1000-watt electric iron running for one hour will consume 1000 watt hours or 1 kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity. To calculate the monthly power consumption, multiply the daily power consumption by 30, and for annual power consumption, multiply by 365.
To calculate the cost of running an appliance, multiply its power consumption by your electricity tariff or rate. For example, if the cost of electricity is $0.25 per kWh, a 40-watt bulb used for 25 hours (1 kWh) will cost $0.25.
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Frequently asked questions
You can calculate your electrical usage by using an electricity usage monitor, which can be purchased at most hardware stores for around $25-$50. You can also calculate your electrical usage by finding the wattage of the product, which is usually stamped on the bottom or back of the appliance, or on its nameplate.
You can use a Kill A Watt or an equivalent device to monitor how much electricity an appliance is using. You can also refer to the Energy Guide label, which provides an estimate of the average energy consumption and cost to operate the specific model of the appliance.
You can open up your electrical panel and measure the draw on each circuit to see which circuits are drawing the most power. You can then start eliminating devices on that circuit until you find the largest consumers.
You can lower your electrical usage by decreasing how often electronics and appliances are running. You can start by turning off lights and unplugging electronics when they are not in use. You can also lower your water heater's temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, which will reduce your home's electricity usage.
