What Stays On When You Go Out?
"We are never home -- we couldn't have used this much electricity." Or, "We
went on vacation for two weeks and our electric bill shows barely a drop in
usage." We often hear comments like these, especially in summer. How can
electric bills scarcely change when a house is empty for most of the billing
period? Here are some things to consider.
First, the modern house is increasingly equipped with appliances that consume
electricity. Electronic devices that you "set and forget" have 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 consume approximately 2 to 10 kilowatt hours of electricity each ($0.20
to $1.00) per month. Electronic gadgets with transformers use 2 to 4 kilowatt
hours a month and a night light can use 10 to 20 kilowatt hours.
Also, did you know that a vacant house with a thermostat set at 55 degrees
may use more energy than an occupied house set at 65 degrees? Lights, cooking,
baths, clothes drying and other "people" activity help to raise the temperature
in a home. An empty house's heating system must work harder to maintain the 55
degree temperature.
The refrigerator (the second largest energy user in the average home) also
works harder in a shut-up house. Door opening accounts for less than 20 percent
of a refrigerator's energy use; the appliance is much more sensitive to the room
temperature around it. A house that is left without any ventilation will raise
the kitchen temperature and increase the refrigerator's energy use 50 percent
during the summer.
Most vacationers do not like to pull the plug on major appliances because of
the trouble of connecting, reconnecting and resetting the data. But there
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
go on vacation. If so, you should reconsider. Leaving a refrigerator almost
empty will cause it to work harder and actually increase its energy consumption.
It would be better to totally empty the refrigerator and set the thermostat to
the highest (warmest) setting. Doing that should lower your refrigerator's
energy use by about 40 percent without causing any mold or mildew that would
occur if you unplugged it. Many people also have a second refrigerator or
freezer in the basement, garage or back porch. Depending on the refrigerator's
efficiency, assume the unit consumes 40 to 150 kilowatt hours ($4.00 to $15.00)
per month. Automatic defrost freezers will use approximately 120 to 140 kilowatt
hours ($12.00 to $14.00) per month.
Another appliance that continues to work while you are gone is your water
heater. The energy use for standby water heating is approximately 50 to 150
kilowatt hours ($5.00 to $15.00) per month. In-sink water heaters also continue
to use electricity -- approximately 8 to 20 kilowatt hours ($0.80 to $2.00) per
month.
Other energy users include:
- Home computers cost about one penny an hour to operate. If left on all day,
every day, that adds up to more than $7 each month.
- Fish aquariums use between 10 and 150 kilowatt hours ($1.00 to $15.00) per
month.
- Pool and spa pumps use 25 to 200 kilowatt hours ($2.50 to $20.00) per month.
- Well and sump pumps running efficiently use approximately 5 to 20 kilowatt
hours ($0.50 to $2.00) 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.