People are always looking for ways to cut down on their monthly expenses, energy usage, and waste when it comes to residential energy consumption.
The top 10 energy-consuming appliances in single-family houses in the United States can be found by examining the US Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) annual energy outlook.
We utilize energy in many different aspects of our everyday lives, and while we might find it difficult to live without it, there are ways to reduce our usage.
The top ten household energy-consuming appliances are examined in the graphic below, along with suggestions for lowering their usage. In addition to understanding a home’s energy requirements and primary energy consumers, this information could help homeowners make more informed decisions about their energy efficiency initiatives.
For instance, homeowners may be thinking about installing solar panels at home or switching to renewable energy sources for the fuels of their systems.
The energy-intensive appliances in single-family houses are displayed in the above figure as a percentage of total end-use.
With the exception of “Other Uses,” which is composed of a variety of devices that together account for 26.2% of the total but individually may not have much of an influence, they are classified by appliance.
1. Heaters
At 31.3% of a home’s overall energy usage, heaters are by far the largest energy user in households. Therefore, this is the area where energy reduction should receive the most attention.
Conducting an energy audit, which can identify areas where energy is being lost, is one of the first steps. After being discovered, certain areas of the house can be worked on to guarantee heating efficiency.
Insulation problems are a major source of heat loss. Installing loose-fill insulation is the simplest option for homeowners, while spray foam is the better choice for new home builders.
2. Water Heaters
The second-largest energy user in a home is a water heater, which uses 13.6% of the energy. Energy-efficient solutions are essential for year-round use, and lowering consumption is a top focus.
Installing a tankless water heater is one option because these heaters only heat water when it is needed, as opposed to heating it continually all day.
A solar water heater is an additional sustainable energy option. Depending on the kind, solar water heaters typically cost between $2,800 and $9,800.
3. Cooling Appliances
At 10.7% of the total energy, cooling a house uses a lot less than heating it. It is still ranked third on the list, though, therefore energy efficiency initiatives should be prioritized there.
Cool air can escape from a home in the same way that heat can. Similar techniques, including doing an energy audit and adding insulation, should be used here to reduce heat waste.
In order to prevent cool air from fleeing or hot summer air from entering, weatherstripping a house will also assist seal off cracks and gaps.
Upgrading appliances is also a must-consider alternative because new appliances can achieve efficiency levels of above 98%.
4. Refrigerators
Four percent of the energy used in a home is consumed by the refrigerator. It is advised to upgrade to a smart fridge because, as previously said, newer appliances consume less energy.
Additionally, smart refrigerators notify owners in the event of an issue.
Energy Star-rated appliances are the best for reducing energy use, as is always the case with new appliances.
5. Clothes Dryers
Similar to refrigerators, a clothes dryer can also be swapped out for a more recent model that has earned an Energy Star rating.
Reducing reliance on clothes dryers is beneficial because they consume 3.2% of a household’s electricity. Line drying should be utilized whenever it is feasible.
6. Lighting
2.8% of the energy used in a residence is used for lighting. Even while it might not seem like much on its own, energy-saving measures combined with other appliances will have a bigger effect.
Energy can be saved by switching to smart lighting that can recognize when a person leaves a room.
7. Home Entertainment Equipment
Since home entertainment equipment uses 2.8% of a household’s energy, smart plugs are also a helpful approach to reduce energy consumption.
Smart plugs totally cut the power, usually at night. In order to effectively regulate the use of various devices, they can also monitor energy statistics.
8. Cooking Appliances
1.3% of the energy used in the house is consumed by the kitchen’s cooking appliances. Even while it’s not a ridiculous sum on its own, it can be easily decreased by changing habits.
Using the appropriate pots and pans, picking the appropriate appliance, and maintaining the cleanliness of the appliances are a few examples.
9. Computers
1.1% of the energy used at home is used by computers and other computing devices.
This amount can be decreased by fully shutting down computers at night.
When it’s time to buy a new computer, it’s a good idea to compare different models because some are more energy-efficient than others.
10. Furnace Fans & Boiler Circulation Pumps
A home’s overall energy consumption is increased by 1.1% due to the mechanisms used to operate the water and heating systems.
In this instance, switching to a heat pump—one of the most energy-efficient solutions, albeit they are mostly advised for moderate climates—is one approach to conserve energy.
Choose high-efficiency boilers and furnaces for chilly climates.
Even if these appliances rank in the top 10 on their own, it’s important to remember that a number of household appliances add up to 26.2% of the total energy used at home.
These items include motors, outdoor grills, electric and electronic gadgets, lights powered by natural gas and propane, heating components, pool and spa heaters, and generators for backup power.
Energy-saving strategies should also be used for these components, even though they are not sufficient on their own to rank in the top ten.
People can concentrate their efforts on lowering energy levels in their homes by knowing where energy is used the most.
Knowing where and how to reduce consumption is helpful, whether the goal is to save money on monthly bills or to safeguard the environment.
