Heating and cooling are by far the greatest energy users in the home, making up around 40% of your electric bill. Other big users are washers, dryers, ovens, and stoves. Electronic devices like laptops and TVs are usually pretty cheap to run, but of course, it can all add up.
Air Conditioning & Heating
Your HVAC system uses the most energy of any single appliance or system at 46 percent of the average U.S. home's energy consumption.
Your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system likely uses the most electricity at home. The EIA tells us that space heating and cooling accounts for slightly over 30% of residential energy usage. These appliances run frequently, and many factors can affect their efficiency, like drafts and poor insulation.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, standby power accounts for as much as 5% to 10% of residential energy use, and homeowners could save $100 to $200 each year on utility bills by unplugging devices that aren't in use.
1. Kitchen Countertop Appliances. Unplug small kitchen countertop appliances such as coffee makers, microwaves, electric kettles, and toasters. These are appliances that we typically keep plugged in at all times because some (like a microwave) have a digital clock that's convenient to have displayed.
If you want to test how much power your appliances and devices are using in standby mode, you can buy an electricity usage monitor device. These devices allow you to plug in various tech or appliances and check how much power they're actually using, even in standby mode.
Heating and cooling: 45-50%
The largest electricity consumer in the average household is your heating and cooling appliance. By a long shot. Central air conditioners and heaters use tons of energy in order to keep your home set to the right temperature.
Heating and cooling account for 41% of the total electricity used in U.S. homes according to EIA data, making HVAC the largest piece of each home's demand. Space cooling, in particular, accounts for the largest electricity draw in American homes at 16.6%.
Gas ovens are the biggest culprits, so if you have the option, opt for a convection or fan oven. If you get into the nitty-gritty, you'll find microwave ovens are where it's at. They use approximately 50% of the energy produced to cook your kai (food)—win.
The most common reasons for a big jump in your electric bill include changes in your lifestyle, increased usage of energy-hungry appliances, and sudden weather changes.
Room air cleaners are portable, electric appliances that remove fine particles, such as dust and pollen, from indoor air. A standard room air cleaner, operating continuously, uses approximately 450 kWh per year in electricity. This is more than the energy used by some new refrigerators!
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A phantom load is the electricity consumed by an appliance or electronic device when it is turned off. With most of these appliances, “off” does not really mean “off.” Electric current is still flowing to keep the device or appliance in standby “ready” mode.
When your devices are plugged in but not in use, they consume electricity, known as the phantom effect. As a result, unplugging those devices can save electricity. Do not worry about unplugging every gadget; simply plug what you can into a power strip so you can unplug less.
So if you still find your electric bill increasing, there may be issues you need to address in your own home. The most common contributing factors are outdated appliances, thermostats, lightbulbs, or insufficient insulation. Here's what you can do to help reduce your household energy usage.
Vampire devices are electrical appliances that drain power when left on standby or when they aren't in use. For example, when you turn off your TV there's no picture but the red standby light is still on. This stays on so you can connect with your TV every time you use the remote.
The trick is to buy energy-efficient appliances. Everything from your fridge to your TV and your washing machine can make a huge difference to your electricity bills. When you purchase energy-efficient appliances, you can save up to 90% on your energy costs.
The Givoni or Woods diagrams show a direct relationship between air speed and the drop in temperature felt by users of the room. In this case, a ceiling fan will consume between 20 and 50 watts (still a long way from the consumption of an air-conditioning system (800 to 1500 watts, i.e. 30 to 40 times more).