Appliances that use the most energy

Refrigerator

AN average refrigerator uses 225 watts, and assuming you use your refrigerator all day, you will use 162kWh per month.

Although we cannot turn our refrigerators off or use them less, there are other ways to save:

◆ Do not overload your refrigerator ◆ Keep most-used products in accessible areas

◆ Arrange contents for optimal efficiency ◆ Set your fridge to the manufacturer’s recommended temperature ◆ Regularly clean behind and underneath the refrigerator to maintain airflow ◆ Replace older refrigerators with modern, energy-efficient models

Electric oven and stove

At 2 500 watts for an oven and 1 500 watts for a stove on medium-high heat, using these for one hour a day results in 75kWh and 45kWh a month, respectively. These appliances, particularly your oven, can also make your home warmer and increase the load on your AC. Reduce the electricity load from these appliances with these tips: ◆ Opt to use a toaster oven, microwave, slow cooker or other smaller appliance ◆ Use the oven and stove during cooler hours of the day

◆ Do not preheat unless it is necessary for the dish to cook properly

◆ Turn off burners a few minutes before the dish is done and let the residual heat do the rest

Lighting

Lighting accounts for about 9 percent of a typical home’s energy use. Light bulbs’ energy use can vary widely based on bulb type and usage. A 100-watt incandescent bulb left on for two hours a day uses about 0,2kWh a day, or 6kWh per month. Add that up with the number of bulbs in your home and see how much it costs you per month. Reduce the electricity usage of your lights with these tips:

◆ Turn off lights when you leave a room ◆ Use energy-efficient light bulbs

LED ◆ Use natural light often.

◆ Make sure lights do not stay on all night. ◆ Install motion detectors on outdoor security lights so they only turn on when you need them

Television and media equipment

Electronics make up about 4 percent of our energy use. Our electronic entertainment in particular, including televisions, set-top boxes and video game consoles, can use a significant portion of our homes’ energy. If we watch an average of five hours of

TV a day and play video games for six hours a week, these devices can use about 55kWh per month. These electronics are also culprits of using standby power even when they are not in use. Keep their energy usage in line with these tips:

◆ Deactivate standby mode and quick-start settings

◆ Turn down screen brightness on televisions and monitors

◆ Always turn off electronics when they are not in use

◆ Choose more energy-free entertainment activities like reading and board games

Air conditioner and room heater

Air conditioners in summer and room heaters in winter are a major source of energy consumption. About 47 percent of the energy consumption is due to these appliances.

Water heater

Another potent source of energy consumption is water heating. Heating water for both shower and washing clothes consumes a lot of energy, which in turn leads to a price hike in your electricity bill.

Below are further basic steps to follow which can lead to a reduction in the consumption of power.

Unplug the appliances

After turning off the appliances, unplug them, so that the vampire devices cannot suck extra energy, as certain appliances even when left on a standby mode, can consume up to 20 percent energy. Therefore it is advisable to always unplug a device once the user is finished.

Insulation

Proper insulation can lead to a lot less power consumption. Insulate your home as well as your water lines, to keep them warm, so that less power is required.

Install solar and automatic light sensors

Installing them in the first place can be costly, but they will help you save a lot in the future. Install solar-powered light bulbs, so that the electricity consumption can be reduced. Also, installing an automatic light sensor on the outside or near the main door can help you save as well. directenergy.com