How Much Electricity Does An Empty House Use

What Stays On When You Go Out?

"We are never home -- nosotros couldn't have used this much electricity." Or, "We went on vacation for two weeks and our electric bill shows barely a drib in usage." Nosotros often hear comments like these, specially in summer. How can electrical bills scarcely change when a house is empty for most of the billing catamenia? Hither are some things to consider.

Get-go, the mod house is increasingly equipped with appliances that consume electricity. Electronic devices that you "prepare and forget" accept a constant draw of power and use a considerable amount of electricity each month. The instant-on features on televisions, DVRs, computers, satellite dishes, and Tv's swallow approximately two to x kilowatt hours of electricity each ($0.xx to $1.00) per month. Electronic gadgets with transformers utilize two to 4 kilowatt hours a month and a night calorie-free can use 10 to 20 kilowatt hours.

Too, did y'all know that a vacant house with a thermostat set at 55 degrees may use more than free energy than an occupied business firm set at 65 degrees? Lights, cooking, baths, clothes drying and other "people" activity help to enhance the temperature in a dwelling. An empty business firm's heating system must work harder to maintain the 55 degree temperature.

The refrigerator (the second largest free energy user in the boilerplate home) also works harder in a shut-upward house. Door opening accounts for less than xx per centum of a refrigerator's free energy use; the appliance is much more sensitive to the room temperature around information technology. A house that is left without any ventilation will heighten the kitchen temperature and increase the refrigerator'due south energy use 50 per centum during the summer.

Most vacationers exercise non like to pull the plug on major appliances considering of the trouble of connecting, reconnecting and resetting the data. Merely at that place can be big savings if appliances are unplugged while the house is empty.

Your first thought might be to empty the refrigerator of perishables and then proceed holiday. If and then, you should reconsider. Leaving a refrigerator nigh empty will cause information technology to work harder and actually increase its energy consumption. Information technology would be better to totally empty the refrigerator and gear up the thermostat to the highest (warmest) setting. Doing that should lower your fridge'due south energy use by about forty pct without causing whatsoever mold or mildew that would occur if you unplugged information technology. Many people likewise have a second refrigerator or freezer in the basement, garage or back porch. Depending on the refrigerator's efficiency, assume the unit of measurement consumes 40 to 150 kilowatt hours ($4.00 to $15.00) per calendar month. Automatic defrost freezers will use approximately 120 to 140 kilowatt hours ($12.00 to $14.00) per month.

Another appliance that continues to piece of work while you are gone is your water heater. The energy utilisation for standby water heating is approximately 50 to 150 kilowatt hours ($5.00 to $15.00) per calendar month. In-sink h2o heaters besides continue to use electricity -- approximately 8 to xx kilowatt hours ($0.80 to $2.00) per calendar month.

Other energy users include:

Home computers cost about i penny an hour to operate. If left on all day, every 24-hour interval, that adds up to more than $7 each calendar month.
Fish aquariums use betwixt 10 and 150 kilowatt hours ($1.00 to $15.00) per calendar month.
Pool and spa pumps employ 25 to 200 kilowatt hours ($2.50 to $xx.00) per month.
Well and sump pumps running efficiently use approximately 5 to xx kilowatt hours ($0.fifty to $two.00) per month.

For more information contact Anita, Klickitat PUD's Energy Services Specialist. You can reach her at 509-773-7622 or toll-free at 800-548-8357.