While inflation seems to have cooled, electric bills are continuing to rise across the US and are predicted to jump by another 7.9% this summer. With each month, homeowners and renters across the US are asking frustratedly, “Why is my electric bill so expensive?” and the answer is usually complicated. The cost of natural gas combined with pricey grid repairs is set to test millions of household budgets, causing many people to try and save energy where they can. From electricity-guzzling refrigerators to tumble dyers, here are 19 household appliances that contribute to your monthly bill.
Hair Dryers
To many people, hair dryers seem an unlikely culprit, as they’re smaller appliances. But while they don’t use as much energy as larger machines, they can be powerful and often have multiple heat settings. What’s more, they often remain plugged in, slowly but surely draining electricity. To reduce costs, consider letting those luscious locks air dry first or use the hairdryer on a cooler setting.
Microwaves
Kitchens are known as electricity vampire zones, containing more power-hungry appliances than elsewhere in the home. Microwaves are among the most expensive kitchen appliances to run and can account for up to 10% of your total energy usage when being used.
Older Devices
Older appliances typically guzzle more energy than their newer counterparts, and anything over ten years old could be using up to 90% more power. This is due to outdated designs, a lack of energy-saving features, and generally worn-out technology. Anyone with vintage or retro appliances could find that these outdated items are to blame for their higher energy bills.
Air Conditioning Systems
While the amount of energy used by an AC unit depends on its size and efficiency, these powerful machines are expensive to use. While the climate might make your beloved AC a necessity rather than a luxury, it can use up to 72,000 watts of electricity per day.
Tumble Dryers
Tumble dryers are known for consuming a lot of energy and are among the most electricity-demanding household items. As it turns out, just one drying cycle can use between 1,000 and 6,000 watts, depending on the size of the machine and its efficiency.
Space Heaters
While they’re a great way to supplement your home’s central heating system, space heaters might be adding to your electric bill considerably. Compared to other household appliances, these small heaters require a significant amount of electricity to work, especially if you have them running at a higher temperature.
Lights
Small yet mighty, the humble lightbulb can account for a large portion of our monthly bills when used en masse throughout the house. Incandescent bulbs are the traditional option and will use more energy than the more efficient LED versions.
Electric Ovens
Providing heat at the turn of a dial, most people consider electric ovens essential, allowing them to cook and bake with ease. But these goliaths need a huge amount of energy to function, especially if you’re an avid home cooker.
Appliances in Standby Mode
When they’re not in use but are still plugged in, appliances will enter standby mode, referred to as a state of “vampire power.” Though you’re not actively using them, gadgets left in standby mode will be drawing small amounts of electricity that add up over time.
Refrigerators
While essential in a world of perishable foods, our fridges are another large contributor to our electric bills. They might keep our groceries fresh and safe to eat, but the average fridge uses around 166 kilowatt-hours per year. This can increase if your fridge is old, inefficient, or too large for your storage needs.
Televisions
It will come as no surprise to most people that their TVs account for a large portion of their utility bill, especially after a winter season of binge-watching Netflix. While LED screens typically use less energy, this won’t save much money in the long run if you spend hours watching TV.
Water Heaters
Heating water for our homes is another non-negotiable feature of modern living, especially for those living in colder climates. But around 12% of our entire household energy consumption comes from heating water, and when used for between 3-5 hours per day, this soon adds up.
Coffee Makers
While only used for a small part of the day, coffee machines can use a lot of power and raise your electric bill a surprising amount. Consuming an average of around 1,000 watts per brewing cycle, espresso machines, in particular, eat up a lot of electricity due to their high-pressure brewing process.
Game Consoles
Whether you have kids who love gaming or adults partial to a nostalgic Xbox session, most households have a game console or two. Unfortunately, these machines require a lot of power, usually around 90 watts per 3 hours of gaming. Many people use their consoles for more than just gaming, running apps such as YouTube or Netflix, and increasing the cost per month.
Dishwashers
Compared to other kitchen appliances, dishwashers may not use the same amount of energy as microwaves or ovens, but they can be costly. Some machines are older and inefficient, while others use expensive control electronics and water heaters. To cut costs and stay efficient, make sure your dishwasher is always running on a full load.
Smart Speakers
Nowadays, many families have multiple smart speakers in their homes, connected to devices such as Amazon’s Alexa. Typically, the speakers themselves don’t use a worrying amount of energy, but accessories such as cameras, doorbells, and hubs for smart lights will increase the overall cost.
Printers
A standard printer might not consume much power, but 3D printers are known for being expensive additions to the home. These printers can consume up to 300 watts of electricity per hour while in operation and continue draining energy when on standby.
Desktop Computers
These stationary computers can use anywhere between 60 and 300 watts while in use. Its efficiency will depend on the size, model, and usage patterns, with high-end gaming laptops using the most electricity.
19 Grim Realities of Dating After 50 That Are Often Overlooked
19 Grim Realities of Dating After 50 That Are Often Overlooked
26 Things That Will Be Extinct Because Millennials Refuse to Buy Them
26 Things That Will Be Extinct Because Millennials Refuse to Buy Them
24 Outdated Slang Terms You Absolutely Shouldn’t Be Using Anymore
24 Outdated Slang Terms You Absolutely Shouldn’t Be Using Anymore
25 Hardest Parts About Getting Older That No One Ever Talks About
25 Hardest Parts About Getting Older That No One Ever Talks About
