Umair Gaines
Understanding your electricity usage is a great way to save money and reduce your carbon footprint. There are many ways to figure out your electrical usage, from simple calculations to using an electricity usage monitor. The first step is to calculate the wattage of your appliances, which can usually be found on the appliance itself. You can then estimate the number of hours per day an appliance runs, either through a rough estimate or by keeping a usage log. Once you have this information, you can calculate your monthly electricity usage and identify areas where you can cut back. You can also use an electricity usage monitor, which can be purchased for around $25 to $50, to measure the usage of devices that run on 120 volts. These devices can help you identify the biggest energy consumers in your home and make informed decisions about your electricity usage.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How to find the wattage of a product | Stamped on the appliance, multiply the appliance ampere usage by the appliance voltage usage, or use online sources |
| How to calculate cost per kWh | Multiply the wattage by usage, then multiply usage by the electricity rate |
| Ways to reduce electricity usage | Turn off appliances and devices at the outlet, use energy-efficient appliances, switch to LED light bulbs, lower the temperature on your water heater, adjust your thermostat setting |
| Devices to help calculate electricity usage | Electricity usage monitors, smart sockets, smart thermostats, the Sense Energy Monitor, the TED 5000, the ECM-1240 Home Monitor |
| Online tools to calculate electricity usage | Energy Vampire Calculator, online electricity bill calculators, individual appliance energy calculators |
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What You'll Learn
Identify energy-intensive appliances and devices
The first step to reducing your electricity costs is to identify which appliances and devices are using the most energy.
You can make a rough estimate of the number of hours per day an appliance runs. For example, if you know you watch about 4 hours of television every day, you can use that number. You can also keep a log of usage for some appliances.
The next step is to find the wattage of the product. The wattage of most appliances is usually stamped on the bottom or back of the appliance, or on its nameplate. If the wattage is not listed on the appliance, you can estimate it by finding the electrical current draw (in amperes) and multiplying that by the voltage used.
You can also buy electricity usage monitors at most hardware stores for around $25-$50. Plug the monitor into the electrical outlet and then plug the device into the monitor. It will display how many watts the device uses.
Some of the most energy-intensive appliances include:
- Electric clothes dryers
- Central air conditioners
- Water heaters
- Electric cooktops
- Ovens with pyrolytic 'self-cleaning' functions
- Electric ovens
- Dishwashers and washing machines (especially when using high temperatures)
- TVs and cable boxes (due to standby hours)
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Understand your electricity bill
Understanding your electricity bill can help you make better decisions about your energy plan and lower your total energy costs. While the complexity of your bill will vary based on your location and utility, there are several common components that everyone should understand.
Firstly, it's important to correctly calculate your electricity usage. Your bill will likely show your monthly usage for the current billing cycle and how your energy consumption compares year-on-year. Some bills will also break out your daily use or show how your monthly usage changes over the year. Remember that your billing cycle is usually monthly, so don't confuse a daily rate with a monthly rate.
Next, you need to understand the rate you're paying for your electricity. Electricity is typically measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh) and you'll usually be on either a fixed-rate or variable-rate plan. Fixed-rate plans allow you to lock in a rate for a specified number of billing cycles, protecting you from market fluctuations, whereas variable-rate plans change from month to month. You can find your current rate per kWh on the back of your bill, along with other account information.
Your bill will usually include two main charges: supply and distribution/transmission. The distribution charge is the cost of taking electricity from high-voltage transmission lines and converting it to a voltage that can be used in your home. The generation charge is the cost of producing or purchasing electricity, and the transmission charge is the cost of moving electricity from generation facilities to your local utility's distribution lines.
Finally, if you have solar panels installed, your consumption will be lower, and you may even owe nothing to your utility company. Your bill will show what you're using at your property versus what you're pulling from the grid. You may also have new sections on your bill, such as kWh Use By Meter, kWh Received (from Customer), and the Net Metering Summary.
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Calculate your electricity usage
To calculate your electricity usage, you need to find out the usage of each appliance and device in your home, particularly those used daily.
First, you need to find out how many watts of electricity each of your appliances and devices is using per day. The wattage of most appliances is usually stamped on the bottom or back of the appliance, or on its nameplate. If the wattage is not listed on the appliance, you can estimate it by finding the electrical current draw (in amperes) and multiplying that by the voltage used. You can also use online sources to find the typical wattages of specific products.
Once you know the wattage of your appliances, you can calculate your electricity usage by multiplying the wattage by your usage. Then, multiply your usage by your state electricity rate. Finally, add up all the costs of the appliances. Remember to divide the wattage by 1000 so that you do all your calculations in kilowatts.
You can also use an electricity usage monitor, which can be purchased for around $25 to $50 at hardware stores. These monitors typically measure the usage of devices that run on 120 volts, so they may not work for larger appliances. With an electricity usage monitor, you simply plug it into an outlet and then plug the device into it. The monitor will display a reading of how many watts the device is using at that time, and you can also read the display after an hour, a day, or longer, to find out how much energy the device has used during that period.
Another way to calculate your electricity usage is to use an online calculator. These calculators use national averages to estimate your costs and require very little information to use. For a more accurate estimation, you can use individual appliance energy calculators and then add up the costs. Appliance calculators allow you to input things like the size of your appliance and how often you use it every month.
There are also some low-effort ways to reduce your electricity usage and your electric bill. For example, you can turn off appliances and devices at the outlet, or use timer plugs that automatically turn electronics off at certain times. You can also set your thermostat to 78 degrees in the summer and 68 degrees in the winter, which is the most energy-efficient temperature.
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Identify ways to reduce your usage
Once you have figured out your electricity usage, you can identify ways to reduce it.
One way to lower your energy usage is to decrease how often electronics and appliances are running. Turn off lights and unplug electronics when they are not in use. This includes computers, chargers, game consoles, toasters, and more.
You can also decrease how often you heat and cool your home. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) found that air conditioning, space heating, and water heating were the top sources of electricity consumption in residential US homes, accounting for 43.5% of energy usage. Adjust your thermostat setting: in the winter, the most energy-efficient temperature is 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and in the summer, set it to 78 degrees. Whenever you're away from home, adjust your thermostat so you're not paying to heat or cool an empty house.
Consider replacing old appliances with energy-efficient ones. ENERGY STAR-certified appliances consume less electricity than non-certified models. For example, ENERGY STAR washers and dryers use 20% less energy than other models. Switch to LED light bulbs, which use 75% less energy than traditional incandescent lighting.
You can also make use of modern timers and motion sensors. This allows you to program your lighting to start at specific times, and switch off when you leave the house. Similarly, you can use motion detectors with exterior lighting, so the lights only turn on when motion is detected.
Finally, you can switch to renewable energy sources, such as photovoltaic installations that convert solar radiation into electricity. Photovoltaic panels can be mounted on roofs, installed on special ground structures, or even on the facade of a building.
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Implement energy-saving measures
Once you have a good idea of your electricity usage, you can start to implement energy-saving measures. Here are some ways to do this:
Smart thermostats and HVAC systems
Smart thermostats can help you manage your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and lower your bills. In the winter, set your thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and in the summer, set it to 78 degrees. When you're away from home, adjust your thermostat so you're not paying to heat or cool an empty house.
Energy-efficient appliances
ENERGY STAR-certified appliances consume less electricity than non-certified models. For example, ENERGY STAR washers and dryers use 20% less energy than other models. Swap out old appliances for these energy-efficient units.
Lighting
Switch to LED light bulbs. LEDs use up to 85% less energy than incandescent lighting and have a much longer lifespan. They are also inexpensive, costing as little as $5, and can save you over $100 over their lifetime.
Power strips
Use smart power strips to eliminate the problem of 'phantom loads'—appliances that continue to draw power even when they are switched off. Smart power strips can be set to turn off appliances at assigned times or after a period of inactivity.
Audits
Consider hiring a professional to audit your home. They will be able to identify areas where you can improve your energy efficiency, such as air leaks, and recommend upgrades. An energy audit typically costs between $200 and $400, but you will make this back in energy savings.
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Frequently asked questions
You can calculate your monthly energy usage by using an online calculator. These calculators use national averages to estimate costs and require very little information to use. Alternatively, you can use individual appliance energy calculators and add up the costs.
You can use an electricity usage monitor, which can be purchased at most hardware stores for $25-50. You simply plug the monitor into an electrical outlet and then plug the device into the monitor. The monitor will display how many watts the device is using.
You can reduce your electricity usage by turning off appliances and devices at the outlet. You can also use timer plugs that automatically turn electronics off at certain times or get smart sockets that can be turned off from your phone.
