Beatrice Lang
There are several ways to determine what is drawing electricity in your home. One way is to use an electricity usage monitor, which can be as simple as a plug load monitor that plugs into an outlet, and then plugging the device into the monitor. Another way is to open 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. Additionally, you can find the wattage of a product, which is usually stamped on the appliance, and then calculate its energy consumption.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Find the wattage of the product | Stamped on the appliance (usually on the bottom, back, or nameplate) |
| Multiply the appliance ampere usage by appliance voltage usage | |
| Monitor electricity usage | Use a device like Kill A Watt or an energy monitor like TED 5000, Blueline Powercost Monitor, or Sense Energy Monitor |
| Check the electric meter | |
| Conduct an energy audit | |
| Measure the draw on each circuit | |
| Clamp onto the main lines and turn off each breaker | |
| Measure the draw of a single device by using an old extension cord | |
| Install a whole-house energy monitoring system | |
| Identify high-electricity usage appliances | Heating equipment, e.g., aquarium heaters, electric clothes dryers, water heaters, additional heating systems |
| Devices that use the same power in standby mode as when powered up | |
| Devices that run constantly instead of for short periods | |
| Devices that are faulty, e.g., a UPS with a dead battery |
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What You'll Learn
Using a plug load monitor
A plug load monitor is a device that you plug into an outlet, and then plug your appliance or device into it. It will then display the energy consumption on an LED screen, usually in kWh. Some plug load monitors can also calculate the cost of running an appliance, if you input the cost of electricity per kWh.
The P3 Kill A Watt EZ is one of the simplest and least expensive plug load monitors. However, it only works on 110- to 120-volt systems, which are standard in the US, but not in the rest of the world. The AnTai ATX.9801 is another meter that works more reliably and is also safer.
Plug load monitors are a good way to measure the electricity usage of most appliances, but they won't work for appliances that draw more than 120V, such as dryers, electric water heaters, and furnaces. They are also unable to measure electricity usage for central air conditioners and most well pumps. For these appliances, you will need a whole-house electricity-monitoring tool, such as TED Pro, Sense Energy, or Eyedro, which can cost between $299 and $349.
To get a true reading of the electricity usage of appliances that cycle, such as refrigerators and water heaters, they will need to be plugged into a plug load monitor for a longer period, ideally 24 hours.
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Checking your electric meter
Analog Meters
Analog meters are more difficult to read than digital meters. They have tiny gears inside that rotate arrows as your home takes current from the power lines, and these arrows show power consumption. To read an analog meter, bring a piece of paper and a pencil with you to the meter. Stand as close to eye level with the meter as necessary. Draw five circles in a row on the paper to represent the meter's dials. Then, read the dials from right to left, recording the digits in the appropriate circles and writing them down in the conventional number format.
Digital Meters
Digital meters will have either an LCD display or a series of lights that show your electricity consumption in kilowatt-hours (kWh). To check if your digital meter is working properly, observe the display and check that the numbers are incrementing regularly as you use electricity. You can also compare the current reading with previous readings to ensure there is a reasonable increase in kWh over time. If you suspect your meter is not functioning correctly, contact your utility company and ask them to inspect or test the meter for accuracy.
Smart Meters
Smart meters securely capture and store energy-usage data using digital technology. They record and automatically send your energy use data to your energy provider. Smart meters give customers better control over their energy usage and budgets.
Plug-In Power Meters
Plug-in power meters are a quick and easy way to understand the electricity usage of individual appliances. Simply plug the power meter into an electrical outlet and then plug your appliance into the power meter. It will show you various informative readings, including watts, kilowatt-hours, and cost. However, plug-in power meters may miss some critical energy users that are "hard-wired" or inaccessible, such as electric hot water systems.
Whole-House Electricity Monitoring Tools
There are also whole-house electricity-monitoring tools available that work via sensors placed on the lines, usually at the household junction box. These sensors communicate wirelessly with meters and gather data, usually uploading it to the web for you to access. Some tools must be installed by an electrician, but others are sold with the promise that anyone can install them. Brands include TED Pro, Sense Energy, and Eyedro.
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Looking for common energy hogs
If your electricity bill seems high, there are several ways to identify the appliances that are using the most energy.
One way is to use an electricity usage monitor, such as the P3 Kill A Watt EZ, Blueline Powercost Monitor, or TED 5000. These devices can be plugged into an outlet, and then you can plug an appliance into the monitor to measure how much electricity it is using.
If you want to measure the energy usage of your entire house, you can install a whole-house energy monitoring system. These systems vary in cost and complexity, depending on the number of circuits you want to monitor and the level of detail of the data. Alternatively, you can use an ammeter to measure the draw on each circuit in your electrical panel to see which circuits are drawing the most power. Then, you can start eliminating devices on that circuit until you find the largest consumers.
Some common energy-hogging appliances include air conditioners, refrigerators, electric water heaters, pool filters, security systems, surveillance cameras, baby monitors, smart speakers, and computers. Additionally, some devices, such as televisions, stereos, and kitchen appliances, continue to draw a small amount of stand-by power even when they are switched off, contributing to your energy bill.
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Calculating the cost of running appliances
There are several ways to calculate the cost of running appliances. The first step is to find out how many watts of electricity a device is using. This can be done by using an electricity usage monitor, which can be purchased at most hardware stores for around $25-$50. Plug the monitor into the electrical outlet and then plug the device into the monitor. The monitor will display how many watts the device is using.
If the wattage is not listed on the appliance, it can be estimated by finding the electrical current draw (in amperes) and multiplying that by the voltage used by the appliance. Most appliances in the United States use 120 volts.
Once you know the wattage of the appliance, you can calculate the cost of running it by multiplying the wattage by the cost of electricity per kilowatt-hour. For example, if an appliance uses 1000 watts and the cost of electricity is $0.10 per kilowatt-hour, the cost of running the appliance for one hour would be $0.10.
It's important to note that many appliances continue to draw a small amount of stand-by power when they are switched off, which can increase the overall cost of running the appliance. These "phantom loads" can be avoided by unplugging the appliance or using a power strip to cut all power to the appliance.
Additionally, the amount of time an appliance is used can also affect the cost. For example, a television that is on for four hours a day will cost more to run than one that is only on for one hour a day.
Another factor that can impact the cost of running appliances is energy efficiency. Purchasing energy-efficient appliances can lead to significant savings in the long run, even if the initial cost of the appliance is higher. Similarly, making changes to your energy habits, such as turning off appliances that aren't being used or using more energy-efficient lighting, can also reduce costs.
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Identifying standby power usage
Standby power consumption, sometimes called "phantom consumption", refers to the energy used by electrical appliances when switched off or left on standby. This means that even when a device is switched off, as long as it remains plugged in, it continues to consume electricity.
Standby power consumption can be determined using a wattmeter, an instrument that measures electrical power in watts. This device is easy to use: simply plug it into a wall outlet, then plug the appliance you want to measure into the wattmeter. This allows you to see in real-time how much energy the appliance in question consumes when on standby.
Another way to identify standby power usage is to use a power monitor such as the Blueline Powercost Monitor or the TED 5000. These devices monitor energy usage in real-time and can provide statistics, history, and graphs of energy consumption.
Additionally, it is important to be aware of which appliances typically consume energy on standby. These include computers, printers, scanners, kitchen appliances such as microwaves, coffee machines, and kettles, television screens, and presentation systems in meeting rooms. By unplugging these appliances when not in use, you can reduce standby power consumption.
Furthermore, when purchasing new equipment, opt for eco-friendly products designed to save energy. These sustainable appliances consume less power on standby, which can lead to significant long-term savings.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several ways to determine what is drawing electricity in your home. One way is to use an electricity usage monitor, such as the P3 Kill A Watt EZ, which can be purchased on Amazon. This device can calculate how many kilowatt-hours (kWh) an appliance uses over a period of time and can also measure the quality of your line. Alternatively, you can open your electrical panel and measure the draw on each circuit to identify which circuits are drawing the most power.
Another way is to use an ammeter, such as the Blueline Powercost Monitor, which can be clamped onto the main electrical line and can monitor usage in real-time. You can also use a whole-house energy monitoring system to get more detailed data on your home's energy use.
It is important to note that some devices use the same amount of power when in standby mode as when they are powered up, so these devices must be shut off completely to reduce power consumption. Additionally, older appliances such as fridges may drive up electricity bills as they tend to defrost too often and use more power.
