What Appliances Use the Most Energy?

A penny saved is a penny earned. If you are looking to save some money, then your electricity bill is a great place to start. Your friends at Mr. Electric can help in more way than one. For beginners, we are happy to have an electrician come by and inspect your system, giving you suggestions on energy efficiency. Next, we share insight through articles like this one. Understanding which appliances use the most energy can help you target your focus. If you have any questions or concerns, or if you want to hire a dedicated electrician, then call Mr. Electric today. We are always happy to take your call.

Heating and Cooling

Your HVAC system easily accounts for nearly half of your overall energy consumption. Not only are your air conditioner and heater running continuously for extended periods of time, they also consume a lot of energy per unit of time. Specifically, heating uses about 50% more energy than cooling your living spaces. That being said, the first place you want to cut costs is here.

Look for the Energy Star label when purchasing your HVAC system or parts. Energy Star labeled products are determined by the Environmental Protection Agency to be more energy efficient that regular models. Still, be sure to adjust your thermostat when you are out of the house. There are also sophisticated “smart” thermostats which allow you to set schedules or adjust the thermostat remotely.

Water Heater

This does not quite fall under the “heating” category, but you probably could have guessed this one was coming after reading the previous section. Water heaters account for roughly twelve to fifteen percent of the total energy used in a home. Of course, this depends on the type of water heater you have. Tank-style water heaters use more energy than tankless heaters. There are Energy Star labels for water heaters as well. Consider setting your water heater’s thermostat to nothing more than 120 degree Fahrenheit.

Washer and Dryer

Next up, we have the washer and dryer. Like the HVAC system and the water heater, the washer and dryers are high-power units that are also running regularly. These two appliances account for a similar amount of energy usage as the water heater.

Reducing energy usage is simple here. Limiting the number of loads and using the hot water washing cycle only when necessary are two easy ways to cut down on electricity usage.

Lighting

Lights make up about twelve percent of the total energy usage primarily because they have strength in numbers. You have at least one bulb in every room. Then there are the accent lights, task lights, and so forth. Switch over to energy-saving bulbs and turn off the lights in unoccupied rooms. Consider investing in “smart” lightbulbs which can be controlled remotely or turn off after a certain amount of time.

Call Mr. Electric

If you have been trying and trying but the electric bill is just not coming down, then call Mr. Electric to have a qualified electrician take a look. A faulty electrical system could be your problem.