---
title: "These are the Biggest Electricity Hogs in Your Home"
date: "2019-08-12"
modified: "2019-08-12"
authors:
  - name: "Andreana Lefton"
    job_title: "Contributing Writer"
    link: "https://www.bobvila.com/authors/andreana-lefton/"
url: "https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/these-are-the-biggest-electricity-hogs-in-your-home-52212/"
categories:
  - "Appliances"
  - "Energy & Power"
  - "Exterior"
  - "Interior"
  - "Kitchen & Dining"
tags:
  - "appliance"
  - "energy"
---

# These are the Biggest Electricity Hogs in Your Home

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/washer-dryer.jpg>)

### Fridge

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/fridge.jpg>)
*istockphoto.com*

Several factors affect your refrigerator’s energy consumption, including size, temperature setting, age, and location. Consider recruiting an energy meter to quantify the power usage, paying particular attention to the [cumulative power consumption](<https://www.kompulsa.com/refrigerator-power-consumption-deciphering-the-label/>) reading. After analyzing the results, decide whether it makes sense to invest in a newer, energy-saving unit.

### Water Heater

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/broiler.jpg>)
*istockphoto.com*

An average 52-gallon water heater can cost more than $55 per month, according to the [National Grid](<https://www9.nationalgridus.com/niagaramohawk/non_html/eff_costappliance.pdf>). You can gauge the efficiency of a unit through its energy factor (EF) as well as its size, first hour rating, and fuel type. Check out the [Department of Energy’s guide](<https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/water-heating/selecting-new-water-heater>) to buying a fuel-efficient water heater.

### Washer and Dryer

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/washer-dryer-1.jpg>)
*istockphoto.com*

According to [IGS Energy](<https://www.igsenergy.com/energy-resource-library/electricity-articles/how-much-electricity-do-my-home-appliances-use/>), most homeowners spend a minimum of $115 annually to run their washer and dryer. Because dryers use more energy, one way to save money is to air-dry or line-dry laundry. Alternatively, you can try washing with cold water to cut costs.

### Lights

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/led-light.jpg>)
*istockphoto.com*

The [U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)](<https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=99&t=3>) reports that residential lighting contributed to 7 percent of our national energy consumption in 2017. While exact usage and costs vary by household, homeowners can switch to more efficient lights to lower bills and reduce fuel consumption.

### Dehumidifier

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/dehumidifier_cost.jpg>)
*istockphoto.com*

Many homeowners rely on dehumidifiers to prevent mold and fungi, but the handy appliance also boosts your electric bills. In fact, a constantly running dehumidifier costs upward of $100 per year. [Energy Star](<https://www.mnenergysmart.com/5-ways-to-dry-out-your-dehumidifier-costs/>) provides helpful tips for reducing both costs and moisture by using fans, natural ventilation, and calcium chloride crystals to absorb excess humidity.

### Hot Tub

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/hot-tub.jpg>)
*istockphoto.com*

A luxurious addition to any home, a hot tub can cause a surge in monthly electric bills. When you calculate expended electricity at 15 cents per kilowatt-hour, a hot tub can cost as much as $558 per year—yikes! Another hidden cost of hot tubs is higher-than-quoted energy prices for heating water, especially in winter.

### Standby Mode

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/stand-by.jpg>)
*istockphoto.com*

A [study](<https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/home-idle-load-IP.pdf>) conducted by the National Resources Defense Council found that “a quarter of all residential energy consumption is used on devices in idle power mode.” This means that your fully charged laptop, your cable box, and even your “smart” appliances suck energy merely by being plugged in. To save money, use a power strip, which allows you to cut off power to multiple electronics at once.

### TV and Game Consoles

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/electronics-1.jpg>)
*istockphoto.com*

Do you leave the TV on when you’re not home? Do you fall asleep before shutting off the gaming console? These bad habits could cost you upwards of $50 a year, especially if your screens are running continuously. According to a comparative review by [CNET](<https://www.cnet.com/news/what-you-need-to-know-about-tv-power-consumption/>), plasma screens are the worst offenders; look for an LED TV instead, and dim the display to a comfortable level during use.

### Cut Costs

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/These_are_the_Biggest_Electricity_Hog__in_Your_Home.jpg>)
*bobvila.com*

Surprised by the appliances guzzling your home's energy? Now that you know, you can make adjustments—like unplugging unused ones—to keep your bills lower *and* to do your part in helping the Earth.

## Author
Andréana Lefton is a writer and educator, focusing on human rights and creating spaces of refuge—in our homes and communities. As a documentary researcher, she has freelanced with The Guardian as well as NPR- and BBC-affiliates. She’s written for On Being, the United Nations, and many non-profit clients in the US, UK, Europe, and Middle East. All that she knows of garden care and interior design she learned from her artistic mother, Jacqueline. She now applies these skills to her life in Chattanooga, TN, where home is an urban art studio with books piled *everywhere*.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/aelefton>)