If you’re looking to save on your electricity bill, the first step is knowing what uses the most electricity in a home. Understand your usage and you’ll know how to make energy saving (and money saving) changes.
What Uses the Most Energy in a Home?
When you research what appliances use the most electricity, you’ll find different answers on the internet, most without reference sources to back it up.
To compile this information, we used the 2015 and 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey, conducted by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), plus additional third party sources listed below.
It’s important to note that when experts talk about home energy usage, it could be different types of energy sources, not just electricity. For example, space heating could use electricity, natural gas, propane or heating oil. This is why we (and the EIA) use the generic term “energy” when talking about what uses the most energy in your home.
You can calculate how much electricity your specific appliances use with our electricity usage calculator.
Cooling and Heating: 52% of energy use
The biggest user of energy in your home is your heating and cooling, which account for 52% of your energy usage. Heating your home is the most energy intensive activity, followed by cooling it.
To ensure your heating and cooling systems operate efficiently:
- Change your air filter regularly.
- Get system tune-ups annually.
- Use proper thermostat settings for summer, winter and vacation.
- Use ceiling fans, setting them clockwise in the winter and counter clockwise in the summer.
If you are replacing your heating and cooling systems, consider a HVAC heat pump system. Not only are these highly energy efficient, you could qualify for a tax credit up to $2000.
Water Heater: 18% of energy use
Your water heater is the next big energy consumption device in the home. Your water heater runs for about 3 hours a day, so you always have hot water when you need it. Here are some tips to lower your water heating bill:
- Wash clothes in cold water.
- Set your water heater thermostat to 120* or lower.
- Turn down your thermostat when you go on vacation. Some water heaters have a vacation mode or pilot-only mode. Check your users manual for information.
If your water heater is in an uninsulated location like an attic or garage, consider wrapping it with an insulation blanket, found at your local hardware store. This will slow any loss of heat.
Lighting: 9% of energy use
Lighting is the third highest electricity usage in your home. But this can vary dramatically based on how many windows you have, your habits in turning off unused lights, and the type of lightbulbs you use.
In fact, the percentage of energy used by lighting is on the decline in the US, thanks to replacing traditional and CFL bulbs with LED lighting.
To keep your lighting costs low, consider using smart plugs. These will let you automate lights turning on and off at your home. Or install motion detectors for outside security lights, so you don’t forget and leave them on.
Washer and dryer: 6% of energy use
To cut down on energy usage for your washer and dryer, consolidate laundry to only wash full loads. And make sure to clean the lint filter on your dryer, to reduce drying time and avoid a fire hazard.
If you have natural gas in your home, you may want to consider a natural gas dryer for your next purchase. While these are more expensive up front, they have a lower energy operating cost.
Refrigerator & Freezer: 4% of energy use
Your refrigerator and freezer account for around 4% of your home energy usage. Modern appliances are highly energy efficient.
If you have a second refrigerator in your garage, it could be an energy hog! These appliances are made to run in an insulated home, not exposed to the elements. Find out more in our article, how much electricity does my refrigerator use?
Electric Oven – 3%
Your oven and stovetop work overtime helping you feed your family. If available, consider using a toaster oven, convection oven or microwave for your cooking. Size the appliance to the job. For example, you need your oven to cook Thanksgiving dinner. But maybe your counter-top convection oven would be better suited for baked potatoes or small dishes.
TV, DVD, cable box: 4% of energy use
The bigger the television, the more power it likely uses. But the latest models of TVs have energy saving modes like ambient light sensors (automatically dimming or brightening the screen) and power saving modes. Check the energy ratings guide for each model before purchasing.
To reduce power usage with your television you can:
- Enable power saving modes.
- Lower brightness and increase contrast settings.
- Set a sleep timer if you tend to fall asleep in front of the television.
- Turn off your screen when streaming music
- Power down the TV completely with a power strip vs. letting it go into standby mode.
- Select a model with energy-efficient display technology like QLED or OLED.
Dishwasher: 2% of energy use
To conserve energy with your dishwasher, use the air-dry mode, and always completely fill it before running.
Computer: 1% of energy use
Turn your computer off when you’re finished using it, rather than using standby mode. The same is true of any gaming systems as well! Standby mode will continue to use power, even when you aren’t using the device!
Miscellaneous Appliances: 2% of energy use
Other small appliances make up the final 2% of energy use in your home. Turn off (and preferably unplug) appliances when you aren’t using them.
Sources Used: EIA Residential Energy Consumption Survey; EIA Using & Saving Energy; Direct Energy; GreenLogic; VisualCapitalist
Graph: What Uses the Most Energy in Homes?
Home Energy Usage Varies Based on These Factors
These stats are for the average home. But actual energy usage in your home will depend on several factors:
- The climate where you live
- Physical characteristics of your home (age, size, construction type)
- Number of household members
- Number and type of electronic devices
- Personal consumption habits
Based on 2022 data, a typical home in the US uses 10,791 kWh annually, or an average of 899 kWh per month. How does your home compare?
Are Home Energy Needs Increasing?
With all our modern technology, gaming systems and larger televisions, you would think that power needs are increasing in homes. But it’s actually the opposite!
While we use more air conditioning, appliances and consumer electronics than ever before, energy usage per home is declining thanks to several factors including:
- New homes and apartments are built to be more energy efficient.
- New appliances are more energy efficient. As consumers replace their HVAC systems, water heaters and refrigerators, usage drops.
- People are moving to warmer areas of the country. That means lower heating demand. Since heating takes more energy than cooling, the overall usage numbers in the U.S. have declined.
Cutting Energy Usage in Your Home
Now that you understand all the factors that drive your energy bill, how do you cut energy usage to get your bills under control.
Just by reading this article, you’ve taken the first step. Change comes from knowledge. Now that you know the biggest factors in your energy bills, you can tackle improvements. Here are two great resources to get you started:
- DIY Home Energy Audit – Find and fix energy wasters in your home!
- 89 Ways to Save on Your Electricity Bill – Keep up the good work by checking off these 89 items!
Depending on where you live, you can also shop for a better electricity rate to keep your bills low. Consumers in Texas, Ohio, Connecticut and Pennsylvania have deregulation and electric choice.
