You can use an energy monitor to find out how much energy your home appliances are using. These devices give you a breakdown of when your appliances are using energy, and help you develop strategies to reduce the amount of energy you use. By knowing how much your appliances use, you can make the right choices for your home and your budget.
The biggest power-user in your home is probably your HVAC system. Make sure you keep it serviced and properly insulated to reduce your energy bill. Another power-hungry appliance is water heating. It adds about 14 percent to your total electric consumption. One way to conserve water is to take a shower instead of a bath, and use the dishwasher instead of hand washing dishes.
You can get accurate information about the power consumption of your appliances by purchasing a Kill A Watt meter. These meters measure the power draw of your appliances and wall sockets for three to seven days. It will also give you tips on ways to save electricity. If you can’t afford to buy a Kill-A-Watt meter, you can also get them at hardware stores.
There are a few factors that will help you figure out how much power your home appliances are using. First, consider the type of appliances you own. Do they need to be plugged in all the time? If they do, you can also get an appliance load tester to figure out the exact wattage needed.
Your television is another big power-hungry appliance. A typical LCD television uses about 0.21 kWh per hour. Bigger models use more energy than small ones. It’s recommended that you unplug televisions when they’re not in use, and unplugging them when you’re not using them will save you money.
In addition to the wattage, you should pay attention to the voltage and temperature of your appliances. Older houses tend to be more expensive to heat and cool than new ones, so you may want to replace them with more energy-efficient devices. Most appliances also have settings, which means the amount of power used will vary depending on the settings you use. A refrigerator will use more power when it is set to high volume than when it’s set to low volume. Similarly, a fan can use more power at higher speeds than it does when set to low speed.
Another huge power-hungry appliance is the HVAC. A typical HVAC runs for several hours a day or even all day. Its energy use depends largely on your climate. If you live in a temperate climate, you’ll spend less money on this appliance, while hotter climates will have higher costs.
The second-largest home energy-hungry appliance is an electric water heater. These devices heat water for washing dishes, using the sink and doing laundry. If you can avoid using the latter, you can cut your electricity consumption by utilizing a toaster oven, microwave, or slow cooker instead. Lightbulbs are also a huge energy-hungry appliance, but they have become more energy-efficient in recent years. LED bulbs are more efficient than their predecessors and cost less to run.
