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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Track your power
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.
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!
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.
To get specifics regarding your energy usage, you need an electricity usage monitor that tells you exactly how many kWh a device or appliance is drawing. It can be as simple as a "plug load" monitor that plugs into an outlet. You then plug the device/appliance into the monitor.
Temperature monitoring: Appliances such as refrigerators or thermostats constantly monitor temperature, consuming power in the process. Signal receivers: Many devices, like TVs and game consoles, remain in standby mode to receive signals from remotes, drawing phantom energy.
What are the downsides of air purifiers? There aren't a lot of downsides to having an air purifier in your home aside from the financial investment. Many ionizers, especially older models, can generate ozone when they are operating, which is known to exacerbate asthma.
Ceiling fans, tower fans, and box fans typically range from 40 to 100 watts of power when operating at full speed. This amount of electricity is not very much, especially compared to the other appliances and electronics in your home. At its lowest setting, a fan may only use about 10 to 30 watts.
When running 24/7, most HEPA air purifiers rated 50 to 100 watts per hour would only set you back around $4 to $10 monthly or $72 to $120 in a year.
Faulty electrical wiring could cause a sudden increase in electricity consumption, or your electrical meter may be broken. If you continue to see a higher than expected electricity bill, even after taking all of the necessary steps to troubleshoot the exact cause, it may be time to call a certified electrician.
Electricity Usage Monitors
Before using a monitor, read the user manual. To find out how many watts of electricity a device is using, just plug the monitor into the electrical outlet the device uses, and then plug the device into the monitor. It will display how many watts the device uses.
Try not to leave lights on in areas that no one is using. Lightbulbs can suck a lot of electricity when left on for long periods of time. It's likely that your electricity bill is rising for every extra minute you leave that light on.
Without further ado, space heating and water heating, on average, are the most energy-consuming equipment. If these appliances are using electricity, they may be what uses the most electricity in your home.
Are those chargers consuming electricity when they're not charging devices? Does it make sense to pull the plug if you're not using it? Yes, say the energy experts! A charger that is not charging continuously consumes about 1 watt in the socket.
Any odd-looking splices, clamps, or amateurish wiring is a potential sign of theft, especially if that janky connection then runs into a neighbor's home. Don't touch anything during your inspection, as electricity can 100% kill you. If you see something that looks off, call your utility provider. Check your meter.