Reducing the cost of maintaining a home and caring for nature are the two main reasons for reducing energy consumption.
If the consumer does not use alternative options for generating electricity, it means that he receives it from thermal, hydro or nuclear power plants. Classical energy causes significant damage to the environment, even with modern means for cleaning up emissions and processing radioactive waste. Reducing electricity consumption will reduce the load on power plants and preserve mineral reserves. However, most homeowners are thinking about saving energy by getting a utility bill with a hefty total.
Regardless of the reason that led the owner of a house or apartment to reduce energy consumption, it is useful to know the factors that determine the amount of energy consumption.
Factors affecting the total volume of food consumedenergy
Electricity consumption is directly related to the power of household appliances, the time of their use and the overall energy efficiency of the house. Factors that drive electricity costs include:
- Energy saving class of household appliances.
- The level of thermal insulation of the building.
- Use of alternative energy.
When choosing appliances for your home, pay attention not only to power, but also to the energy saving class. The energy efficiency of the device is calculated by the manufacturer based on its parameters and power consumption. This distinguishes seven classes, marked from A to G. Classes A+ and A++ have the highest energy efficiency.
Note that high energy efficiency is related to but not equal to low consumption.
Good thermal insulation leads to a comfortable microclimate and makes it possible to reduce electricity costs without losing heat in the house. The use of solar panels, windmills or mini hydroelectric power plants will fully or partially meet the needs of the homeowner in electricity.
Energy consumption of electric heating system
In winter, heating accounts for a significant share of utility bills. This problem is faced not only by owners of private houses, but also by residents of multi-apartment buildings who are forced to use convectors to maintain a comfortable temperature. Old high-rise buildings have a low energy efficiency class. ATapartments can be cool even with central heating.
The heart of any heat supply system in a private house is the boiler. Owners of small houses, in which there are no power outages, choose electric boilers. The power consumption is high, but this fact is compensated by the efficiency approaching 100% and the ease of installation.
Let's consider the factors affecting the energy consumption of the boiler:
- Characteristics of the boiler: device power, operating time, number of circuits, tank capacity.
- Heating circuit: quantity and type of coolant.
- Building parameters: the volume of the room, the number of openings in the walls, the material of the walls and the quality of thermal insulation.
- Climate.
The average annual calculation of heating costs without calculating heat losses and other factors is as follows:
- Multiply the power of the boiler by the number of hours of operation per day.
- Multiply your daily intake by 30 and then by the number of months your area is in the heating season.
- Divide the figure in half to account for the average heat load.
Automated heating intensity control systems allow you to regulate electricity consumption. Heating costs less with a programmable room thermostat.
Energy consumption of water heaters
Electric instantaneous and storage water heaters are used for water heating,which have differences in energy consumption and affect energy consumption in different ways. The water heated by the boiler should be enough for the needs of all family members. Their number determines the volume of water consumed and the cost of heating it.
Here are the main factors that affect energy consumption indicators, taking into account which you can make the necessary calculations:
- Water heater type.
- Characteristics of the boiler: tank volume, power, heating rate.
- Daily volume of water.
The flow type of the water heater has a higher power, but the cost of its consumption is on average less than that of the accumulative one. The storage boiler has a thermal insulation layer that makes it difficult to lose heat and lower power. However, due to automatic heating and heat losses, the energy consumption of the storage water heater is higher within the same period. The choice of the type of water heater is far from obvious, and depends on the stability of the voltage and the absence of power outages, as well as the required water temperature.
Electricity consumption for lighting
The share of household lighting costs in the winter is about one third of total spending. This is a significant item on the list of utilities that needs to be reviewed.
Reduce lighting costs by changing all light bulbs to LEDs, which are more energy efficient with higher light output and longer life. PriceLED lamp is 5-6 times higher than fluorescent, and the service life is increased by 10 times. Thus, the purchase of LED lighting products in terms of service life is more cost-effective.
Table of electricity consumption of household appliances
This table shows the share of energy consumed by various household appliances. It will show which appliances account for the largest percentage of costs and help reduce them.
| Name of household appliances | Consumption percentage |
| Refrigerator | 30 |
| Lighting fixtures | 29 |
| Washing machine and dishwasher | 21 |
| TV | 7 |
| Computer | 6 |
| Microwave oven | 5 |
| Vacuum cleaner | 2 |
Pay attention to household appliances at the top of the table. If possible, replace them with modern appliances with a higher energy efficiency class.
Methods for calculating average electricity consumption
There are several ways to calculate the average energy consumption of household appliances in your home.
- According to the annual meter readings, you can find outaverage monthly expense;
- By power or by current and voltage of household appliance.
To speed up your calculations, download and install the Energy Consumption Calculator, which will not only automatically do all the necessary calculations, but also help you develop an energy cost optimization program.
It is easy to determine the electricity consumption from the meter - subtract the kWh indicated in the previous readings from the current value of the meter, excluding the figure after the decimal point.
Let's take a closer look at the calculations based on the characteristics of household appliances.
Calculation of power consumption of a household appliance
There is no difficulty in determining the power consumption of an electrical appliance by power if it has a label with technical characteristics. It can be found on the back of the case. Consumption in kilowatt-hours is calculated by the manufacturer based on average values during tests in different operating conditions.
If the label does not indicate consumption, but electrical parameters, then the calculation of consumption must be done manually:
- Find the power on the appliance label;
- Multiply this value by your average daily usage in hours.
Counting example:
Pump power - 600 W, operating time - 1 hour. Consumption=6001=600 Wh or 0.6 kWh. Thus, the daily consumption of the pump is 0.6 kWh. Multiply your daily intake by 30 days, andyou will get the average monthly expense
Please note that the manufacturer indicates the maximum, not the average power value of the device. These values may vary. As a rule, the average value is significantly lower.
Calculation of consumption by current and voltage
Calculation of consumption is easier to do by power, but in some cases this indicator is not indicated on the label. Voltage is a constant value, which for Russia is 220 volts. Current strength is measured in amperes (A). If there is an input and output current value on the label, use the input (Input).
- Multiply the input current value by the mains voltage to get the power;
- Multiply your result by your average daily usage in hours.
Counting example:
Notebook power supply current is 3.5 A, voltage is 220 V. Consumption=3.52201 (hour)=770,600 Wh or 0.77 kWh
Recommendations for saving energy and increasing energy efficiency
Review the energy consumption table and identify weaknesses in the energy saving system of your home. The first positions, the total share of which is more than half of all costs, are occupied by a refrigerator and lighting fixtures.
To reduce your lighting share, use more natural light and replace light bulbs with fluorescent or LED bulbs. The refrigerator should be moved away from the wall for ventilationspace next to the compressor.
Upgrade your existing home appliances and consider using alternative energy sources.
