Is Your Home Energy Efficient?
Are you aware of how much energy your household consumes? It may surprise you if you saw your energy consumption held up against other homes of your size. What is the difference between an energy efficient home and one that is not? Here are a few answers to questions you should be asking about your energy consumption:
How much electricity does the average U.S. home consume?
Data gathered by the Energy Information Administration suggests that the average U.S. household used 10,399 kilowatt hours (kWh) in 2017, which is roughly 867 kWh per month.How can I find out how much energy my home uses?
You can find your household's monthly energy usage on your electric bill. From there, you can compare your usage to the national average.
How much electricity do my appliances use?
You may not realize this, but many small household appliances use more energy than you may think. Here, take a look:
- Water heater - 4500 to 5500 watts
- Clothes dryer - 2790 to 5000 watts
- Dishwasher - 1200 to 2400 watts
- Hair dryer - 1200 to 1875 watts
- Clothes iron - 1100 to 1800 watts
- Coffee maker - 1000 to 1200 watts
- Toaster- 1100 to 1400 watts
Some appliances that use little energy include:
- Laptop - 75 watts
- Television (LCD)- 92 watts
- Window fan - 55 to 250 watts
- Desktop Computer- 60 to 250 watts
- Washing machine - 350 to 500 watts
- Refrigerator - 225 watts
Are you surprised to learn that your hair dryer uses more energy than your refrigerator or washing machine? Using energy efficient appliances and making a few small changes can make a huge difference in your monthly energy consumption.
Recent changes in energy consumption:
In past years, the majority of U.S. households used the greatest amount of energy for heating and cooling. Recently this trend has changed, and the majority now spends roughly 30 percent of their energy consumption on appliances, electronics, and lighting. Another 14 percent is spent on water heating, while air conditioning accounts for 17 percent and heating hovers around 15 percent.
What can I do to get better control of my energy costs?
Make small changes gradually and consider speaking with an energy supplier to discover ways to make better energy choices. As always, lowering your energy consumption is a great option because it not only reduces your monthly energy budget, but may also help lower your carbon footprint.