Since the beginning of time, humans have been trying to find a way to harness the energy of the Sun to provide for their needs. In a not-so-distant future, solar power might just be what keeps your home powered up. But until that day comes, it’s important to understand how much electricity your home consumes just to maintain itself.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that roughly 14.5 billion kWh of electricity were consumed by American homes in 2016. That’s the equivalent of 26.9 million barrels of oil or about 11.1 trillion French fry bits. If that number seems high, you’re not alone. The EPA released its own report in January 2020 detailing that Americans are perplexed about their energy consumption. While some might assume that energy-using appliances such as washing machines and air-conditioning units contribute to electricity bills, the EPA analysis determined that this is not necessarily the case. It found that even homes featuring energy-efficient appliances use more energy than they save.
If you’re curious about how much energy your home needs to function, this is the info you’re looking for. Keep reading to find out more.
How Much Energy Does My Home Use?
The energy consumption of your home can be determined using a simple question-answer format known as a power consumption survey. To start, you’ll need to identify the types of devices that are installed in your home. This includes both appliances and electronics such as light bulbs and laptops. Appliances like refrigerators, stoves, and dishwashers that are not part of the electronics category are considered to be background equipment and are not tallied as part of the home’s energy consumption. For the survey, you’ll need to determine how much electricity each appliance uses at regular intervals. The easiest way to do this is by using an electrical tester that is connected to the line and allows you to monitor the electricity being used.
When you’re done taking the survey, you’ll have an overall picture of how much energy your home uses. For additional insights, the EPA recommends looking at the different categories that contribute to your home’s total energy use. This way you can determine ways to reduce your energy consumption without having to replace any major appliances. For example, if you realize that most of your home’s energy is being used to keep its temperature stable, you can look into solutions like upgrading ventilation systems or using ceiling fans instead of air-conditioning. These are just a few examples of how easy it is to reduce your energy consumption.
Where Does My Home Get Its Energy?
As discussed above, your home gets its energy from somewhere. This usually means that you’re either using a power source such as coal, gas, or nuclear energy to generate electricity or that you’re buying it from an electric company. In most cases, your home gets its energy from fossil fuels (oil, gas, and coal) burned at a power plant. The exceptions are photovoltaic (PV) systems that use solar power and wind turbines that produce electricity without needing any fossil fuels.
The main thing to keep in mind about your home’s source of energy is that it’s not renewable and will deplete over time. This means that one day you might run out of it. To avoid this situation, you’ll need to find alternative ways of providing for your energy needs. As with any other area of your home, upgrading your energy source is one of the simplest ways of reducing your home’s energy consumption. The alternative is to use more energy. If you do choose to use more energy, then it’s imperative that you use energy-efficient appliances and devices. In many cases, this can mean making significant changes to your home’s design and how you use it. For example, if you realize that your home’s design doesn’t allow for easy air circulation, you can look into replacing all the windows with insulating glass. In some homes, insulating glass can reduce the heat loss by as much as 30% while providing better visual appeal.
What Are The Biggest Energy Consumers In My Home?
Once you have an idea of how much energy your home uses, you can start to identify the major power consumers. Refrigerators, for example, are one of the biggest energy consumers in most homes. This is because they run on electricity even when they’re not in use. To provide you with an idea of how much energy each refrigerator consumes, multiply the amps (amps = amperes x volts) by the volts. For example, a 1000 W refrigerator consumes 1000 x 120 = 120,000 W (Watt-hours) of electricity per day. That’s a lot of energy. Other appliances that consume a high amount of energy include air-conditioning units, water heaters, and dishwashers. You can try to be more energy-efficient by investing in Energy Star appliances and avoiding over-use. When this is not possible, then it’s important to switch them off when you don’t need them. This will help reduce your home’s energy consumption.
How Much Does My Home’s Lighting Consumption Increase?
As discussed above, your home gets its energy from somewhere. This usually means that you’re either using a power source such as coal, gas, or nuclear energy to generate electricity or that you’re buying it from an electric company. In most cases, your home gets its energy from fossil fuels (oil, gas, and coal) burned at a power plant. The exceptions are photovoltaic (PV) systems that use solar power and wind turbines that produce electricity without needing any fossil fuels.
The thing to keep in mind about your home’s lighting is that it does not generate any energy itself. This means that it’s basically just an expense that you have to bear. As a result, you might want to consider cutting back on your home’s lighting consumption. Again, there are many simple ways in which you can do this. For example, you can switch off unused appliances or fixtures, or you can invest in energy-saving bulbs. In many cases, this can mean making significant changes to your home’s design and how you use it. If you have multiple bathrooms, you can look into installing more efficient bathroom lights or investing in motion-sensitive lights that turn on when you enter the bathroom and switch off when you leave. Addressing your home’s lighting in this manner can help reduce your electricity bills without having to make any major changes to your home.
How Much Does My Home Use As A Whole?
Your home’s total energy consumption can be determined using a power consumption survey. To start, you’ll need to identify the types of devices that are installed in your home. This includes both appliances and electronics such as light bulbs and laptops. Appliances like refrigerators, stoves, and dishwashers that are not part of the electronics category are considered to be background equipment and are not tallied as part of the home’s energy consumption. For the survey, you’ll need to determine how much electricity each appliance uses at regular intervals. The easiest way to do this is by using an electrical tester that is connected to the line and allows you to monitor the electricity being used.
When you’re done taking the survey, you’ll have an overall picture of how much energy your home uses. For additional insights, the EPA recommends looking at the different categories that contribute to your home’s total energy use. This way you can determine ways to reduce your energy consumption without having to replace any major appliances. For example, if you realize that most of your home’s energy is being used to keep its temperature stable, you can look into solutions like upgrading ventilation systems or using ceiling fans instead of air-conditioning. These are just a few examples of how easy it is to reduce your energy consumption.