Energy Saving Tips: Appliances and Light Bulbs

November 14, 2014

Energy Saving Tips: Appliance Usage. Have you ever wondered which of your household appliances uses the most electricity? Or how much it really costs to turn on a light bulb? Check out our handy chart, based upon a sample cost of $.10 per kilowatt (KW) hour:

Appliance	Avg Consumption Per Hour	Cost Per Hr	Cost Per Day*
Central Air Conditioner/Central Heater	15,000 watts	$1.50	$22.50 (15 hrs est. usage)
Hot Water Heater	4,000 watts	$.40	$1.20 (3 hrs est usage)
Clothes Dryer	4,000 watts	$.40	$.40 (1 hr est usage
Water Pump	3,000 watts	$.30	$.90 (3 hrs est usage)
Space Heater	1,500 watts	$.15	$.60 (4 hrs est usage)
Electric Range	1,000 watts	$.10	$.10 (1 hr est usage)
Refrigerator/Freezer	1,000 watts	$.10	$2.40 (runs constantly)
Desktop Computer	400 watts	$.04	$.16 (4 hrs est usage)
Traditional (Incandescent) Light Bulb	60 watts	$.006	10 lightbulbs on for 16 hrs/day = $.96
CFL/LED Light Bulb	20 watts	$.002	10 lightbulbs on for 16 hrs/day = $.32

*Estimated cost. Will vary based upon season, climate, and personal preference/usage.

As you can see, heating, air conditioning, hot water, and your refrigerator/freezer are the big energy hogs in a household. For some energy savings tips, try our easy and nearly painless money-saving measures below:

Central Air/Central Heat: Here is where a programmable thermostat really comes in handy. No more having to think about lowering the heat when you leave the house, or turning down the air conditioner at bedtime. Think about your family’s habits and comings and goings from the house, and aim for a goal of lowering the thermostat at least 10 degrees for 8 hours each day. This can add up to a 10% reduction in heating/cooling costs over the year…NOT insignificant!

Water Heating: If you haven’t already done so, aim to always wash your clothes in cold water, except for really dire situations. Laundry detergent works really well, and guess what? You can save about $1 a load by washing in cold water! Also, make sure your water heater is set at 120 degrees. For every 10 degrees you lower it, you will save about 3 – 5% per month on its cost.

Refrigerator/Freezer: Just make sure that you haven’t set the thermostat too low. Consult the manufacturer’s manual for the optimal setting for your refrigerator. Also, if you have a refrigerator/freezer in a basement or garage that you aren’t using much, you might want to reconsider spending the money on the electricity needed to keep it turned on.

Light Bulbs: They don’t cost all that much, but it can’t hurt to switch to LED bulbs as your old incandescent bulbs get burned out. It will save you money over time.

Follow our energy saving tips, and you can save money on your electric bill with very little effort!

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