5 Big Electricity Spenders in Your Home

Do you keep your TV running all day? Are your lights on at all times of the day? Turn them off. There are some appliances that spend a lot of electricity and should probably be turned off when not actively used. Electricity in the USA is produced from a variety of sources, but the majority of it (around 65%) comes from burning fossil fuels. So by using electricity irresponsibly, we are promoting more fossil fuels being burned. Another important factor is the cost. If you can reduce your electricity bill by just knowing a few tricks, would you do it? Here are several household appliances that spend the most in your home.

Water Heaters

If you think this point doesn't concern you because you use a gas water heater, or some other means of heating water, think again. Water heaters aren't just used to heat water in our pipes and showers. There are water heaters in dishwashers, as well as in washing machines. This is one of the most important appliances at home, obviously. However, it can be quite costly, too. Heating water can rake up to 15% of the total electricity bill. There are ways you can reduce this number. If you reduce your overall water consumption by showering shorter or washing things at a lower temperature, you can save a bit of money.

Refrigerators and Freezers

Another indispensable household appliance is the fridge. It is by far the most energy consuming appliance in your kitchen. There aren't many things you can do about it, but if your fridge is old, it probably spends a lot more energy than the modern ones. If you can, replace your old fridge for a newer model with a good Energy Star rating.

Washer and Dryer

The washing machine and the dryer are extremely energy-consuming. They can stack up to the water heater in terms of energy consumption. And just like the fridge, older models tend to be less efficient than the new ones. One way you can reduce the amount of electricity used by these machines is reducing the washing temperatures. The effect is cumulative, and over time it will make a noticeable difference. As for the dryer, be more economical with its use. If the weather is warm outside, you can leave your clothes to dry naturally, and only use the dryer when you have to.

Television

Even though television sets do not normally spend all that much, they do continue to spend electricity even when they are not in use. So if your TV is plugged in, but not turned off, it is still using electricity. Same goes for various gaming consoles and phone chargers. One thing you can do is plug them into a power strip with an off switch, or plug them out if you don't expect to be using them for an extended period of time.

Lights

Finally, lights can be as much as 12% of your electricity bill. However, if you switch your standard incandescent bulbs for LED lights, this percentage drops significantly. Also, turn off the lights you do not need to maximize your savings.