How Much Power Do Home Appliances Use & How Much Is Costs?
October 04, 2022 By Omal J
(Image Credit Google)
The energy crisis is having a significant impact on consumer budgets. Many households are concerned about their energy bills as gas prices rise and the overall cost of living rises.
According to International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates, the average European household's cost of living will rise by about 7% this year compared to what was expected in early 2021.
According to the organization, this reflects the direct effect of higher energy prices as well as their pass-through to other goods and services.
Things reached a new low in the UK last month, when energy regulator Ofgem raised the average household's annual energy price cap by 80% to £3,549 (€4,098), a blow to already strapped consumers.
In this context, small actions like turning off appliances at home are dwarfed by larger factors beyond the average consumer's control - but actions at home are also increasingly at the forefront of their minds, as people struggle to cope with the rising cost of living.
With energy prices on the rise, it's worth knowing where you might be able to save money.
We examine how energy is used in a typical household, which appliances consume the most energy, and how much they may cost you.
- 45-50% heating and cooling
Your heating and cooling system is the largest electricity consumer in the average home. By a wide margin. Central air conditioners and heaters consume a lot of energy to keep your home at the proper temperature.
If you have an electric water heater, it is most likely the second most energy-consuming appliance in your home. Showering, washing dishes, using the sink, and doing laundry all require the use of a water heater. All of these activities add up to make water heaters a significant energy suck.
Over time, lightbulbs have become far more energy-efficient. LEDs, the market's leading lighting technology, use significantly less energy than their predecessors (CFL bulbs) and last much longer, reducing waste. Not to mention that they are less expensive to operate.
Nonetheless, because of how frequently they are used, lighting accounts for a significant portion of your monthly electricity consumption.
Although your refrigerator does not require much energy to run every hour, it consumes a lot of electricity simply because it is always on.
- Washing machine and dryer: 5%
The monthly energy consumption of your washers and dryers is, of course, determined by how frequently you do laundry. However, when you do use the washer and dryer, they tend to consume a lot of electricity, especially if you use hot water in the washer. Laundry accounts for about 5% of your annual electricity consumption.
Cooking consumes a lot of energy, especially if you use an electric oven and cooktop. Electric ovens typically account for about 3% of your monthly electricity consumption.
- Television and cable box: 2%
Today's televisions and cable boxes are quite energy efficient. The issue is that they frequently run even when you are not using them. Those standby hours can add up to some electricity consumption, and as a result, your TV and cable box consume about 2% of your total monthly electricity consumption.
So, it's worth considering ways to improve your home's insulation to reduce heat loss or turn down the thermostat.
Professional insulation helps to reduce heat loss, but even small steps to insulate your home, such as draught-proofing gaps, could save you £45 (€52) per year, according to the UK's Energy Saving Trust.
Draughts around doors and windows, gaps around the floor, and the chimney can all cause heat loss in a home.
The organization's calculations are based on a typical three-bedroom, gas-heated home in the United Kingdom, with a gas price of 7.4p/kWh and an electricity price of 28.3p/kWh (based on the April 2022 price cap).
Smart thermostats and smart meters can also help you avoid heating an empty house and see where you're using the most energy.
When not in use, turn off devices at the mains rather than switching to standby, and when purchasing a new product, choose one with a low standby power usage rating.
By Omal J
I worked for both print and electronic media as a feature journalist. Writing, traveling, and DIY sum up her life.