Beatrice Lang
The average household's electricity bill is influenced by a variety of factors, including location, housing type, and the number of people living there. The largest electricity consumer in the average household is the heating and cooling system, accounting for 25% or more of annual electricity usage. Electric water heaters are also a significant contributor, being used for showering, washing dishes, and laundry. Other appliances that consume a notable amount of electricity include ovens, stoves, washers, dryers, and dishwashers. Lighting and entertainment systems, such as TVs and video game consoles, can also contribute substantially to the electricity bill, especially when left on standby.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Heating and cooling appliances | 25%+ of annual electricity usage |
| Water heaters | 18% of household energy usage |
| Central air conditioners | 1,450 kWh per month |
| HVAC | 850-1,950 kWh in a month |
| Washers and dryers | 3045 watts cumulatively |
| Lighting | 9% of a typical home's energy use |
| Entertainment electronics | 4% of energy use |
| Refrigerators | 7% of all electricity in the average residential home |
| Air purifiers | 550 kWh of electricity each year |
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What You'll Learn
Heating and cooling systems
The water heater is likely the second biggest energy consumer in your home. It is used for showering, washing dishes, using the sink, and laundry, all of which add up to significant energy usage each month. Gas water heaters are generally more efficient than electric ones, and tankless water heaters are more efficient than traditional tank units.
To reduce energy consumption, you can implement smart electrification via remote-controlled heating and cooling systems. These systems use predictive and adaptive algorithms to adjust heating, ventilation, and cooling based on real-time power market conditions and consumer needs, ensuring comfort at lower prices. Additionally, smart thermostats can provide an easy efficiency boost to your heating and cooling equipment.
Another way to conserve energy is by switching to a heat pump, which is one of the most energy-efficient options, especially in mild climates. For colder climates, high-efficiency furnaces and boilers are recommended. Proper maintenance and insulation of your heating systems can also help reduce energy consumption.
Lastly, simple habits such as dressing lightly during hot weather and spinning ceiling fans counterclockwise can help you set your thermostat a few degrees higher, reducing the workload on your cooling system.
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Washers, dryers, and dishwashers
Washers
Washers are known for their high energy consumption, but their exact electricity usage depends on the model and usage frequency. An Energy Star washer, for instance, consumes only $1.60 worth of electricity per year when used once a week. This model consumes 500 watts per hour, translating to 250 watt-hours or 2.25 kilowatt-hours for a standard 30-minute cycle.
Dryers
Dryers are more energy-intensive than washers, using an average of 3,000 watts per hour and running for at least 45 minutes per load. On average, dryers consume between 1,500 and 5,000 watts, depending on the model. Using a dryer three times a week will cost about $66.41 annually, based on state average electricity rates.
Dishwashers
Dishwashers are often overlooked when seeking to reduce electricity consumption. While they don't use much electricity, their main byproduct is heat, which requires substantial power to generate. A dishwasher's pump and control electronics typically require about 1,200 watts, similar to a blow dryer. Additionally, dishwashers require piping-hot water, which means the energy used by the water heater should be considered part of the dishwasher's total energy consumption. A dishwasher typically runs for more than two hours, consuming 3,600 watt-hours or 3.6 kilowatt-hours per use. If used daily for a year, this can cost over $161.50.
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Kitchen appliances
Ovens and stoves are essential kitchen appliances, contributing 3-5% of your monthly electricity usage, depending on how often they are used. To reduce electricity usage, you can opt for smaller appliances such as toaster ovens, microwaves, or slow cookers, which consume less energy. Additionally, you can avoid preheating the oven unless necessary and turn off the burners a few minutes early to utilise residual heat.
Refrigerators are another notable energy consumer, accounting for 7% of all electricity in residential homes. Older refrigerator units will almost always consume more energy than newer, more energy-efficient models. Regular maintenance, such as cleaning the coils and ensuring proper door seals, can help minimise electricity usage.
Dishwashers are marketed as low-energy appliances, but they can still contribute to your energy bill. To reduce their energy impact, you can run full loads, use energy-saving settings, and allow dishes to air-dry.
Clothes washers and dryers also contribute about 5% of your home's total energy consumption. The dryer is the least efficient of the two, as it requires a lot of heat to operate. To save energy, consider air-drying clothes when possible and using energy-saving settings on your dryer.
Other kitchen appliances, such as coffee makers, blenders, and mixers, can also contribute to your energy usage, especially when used frequently. While they may not individually consume a large amount of energy, their combined usage can add up over time.
By adopting energy-efficient habits and utilising modern, energy-saving appliances, you can significantly reduce the electricity consumption of your kitchen appliances, leading to both environmental and financial benefits.
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Lighting
Switching to energy-efficient lighting, such as LED bulbs, is one of the fastest ways to cut energy bills. LED bulbs use up to 90% less energy and last up to 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. They are more expensive than incandescent bulbs, but their longevity and low energy use make them a cost-effective option in the long run. LED lights are much more efficient at converting electrical energy into light, as they use a process called electroluminescence, which involves the emission of light from a semiconductor material when an electric current is passed through it. This means that most of the energy consumed by LED lights is converted into light, resulting in less heat produced.
To further reduce energy consumption and costs, smart lighting controls can be used. These allow you to set schedules based on usage and turn off lights remotely if you forget to turn them off manually. Timers and dimmers can also help to save electricity by automatically turning lights off when not in use or lowering light levels.
It is worth noting that the cost of LED light bulbs has decreased since they entered the market, and prices are expected to continue to drop as more products become available.
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Entertainment systems
Televisions and monitors are major contributors to electricity consumption in households. In Australia, television uses about 9.5% of the energy in the average home. While LCD and plasma televisions are more energy-efficient than the old-style CRT type, the total power used has not decreased due to increasing screen sizes and multiple televisions in households. The average plasma television uses 138 watts, while the older LCD/CCFL models use 139.5 watts. Newer LCD/LED televisions are more energy-efficient, consuming an average of 91.5 watts, a 34% energy saving.
Peripheral devices, such as digital video recorders (DVRs), video game consoles, and streaming devices, also contribute significantly to electricity consumption. In 2015, these devices consumed nearly as much electricity as televisions in American homes, accounting for 7% of electricity use and costing $103 per home per year.
Home theatre systems can consume a significant amount of electricity, especially when used for extended periods. A typical 37-inch LCD HDTV with a cable box can use around 172 watts. Adding a 5.1-channel home theatre with a powered subwoofer increases consumption to 244 watts. Using a Blu-ray-playing PlayStation 3 for movie viewing can result in a total consumption of 444 watts, which is two and a half times the electricity usage of just the TV and cable box.
Other factors that influence power consumption in home theatre systems include the number of AV components plugged into the same outlet and the use of shared outlets with other appliances or lighting on the same circuit. Systems with large, powerful amplifiers may require dedicated 20A outlets to ensure adequate power supply and prevent component damage.
To minimize electricity consumption in entertainment systems, consider the following:
- Use a separate power strip for non-essential AV gear and turn it off when not in use to reduce standby power leakage.
- Opt for newer, more energy-efficient television models, such as LCD/LED types, which offer significant energy savings.
- Be mindful of the number of televisions and peripheral devices in your household, as these can contribute significantly to overall electricity consumption.
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Frequently asked questions
Heating and cooling appliances are the largest contributors to high energy consumption across US homes. Heating uses more electricity throughout the year, accounting for 25%+ of annual electricity usage. Central air conditioners can consume 1,450 kWh per month, which is a significant amount.
Water heaters are the second-biggest energy consumers in the home, accounting for 18% of household energy usage. Washers and dryers use about 3,045 watts cumulatively, and ovens and stoves can use 2,500 and 1,500 watts respectively. Lighting accounts for about 9% of a typical home's energy use.
You can invest in energy-efficient appliances, such as a tankless water heater, or use energy-saving features like timers. You can also adjust your habits, such as line-drying clothes instead of using a dryer, or using smaller appliances like a toaster oven or microwave.
Air purifiers do not use a lot of electricity to operate, but they do require consistent use to save on energy bills. Most air purifiers have a maximum wattage between 40 and 200, and some energy-efficient models can provide up to 90% energy savings.
