Average energy consumption per household

List of Household Appliances and Energy Consumption

Major appliances use up to 33 percent of the electricity and 13 percent of the total energy in an average American household. Older appliances are often much less efficient than newer, Energy Star--labeled models --- often to the extent that a new appliance can pay for itself in energy savings in only a few years. Additionally, there are ways to reduce the energy use of your existing appliances by
changing the way you use them.


  1. Refrigerator and Freezer

    • Refrigerators consume the most energy of any major household appliance, averaging approximately 1,462 kWh --- kilowatt hours --- per household. Only about 34 percent of households have a separate standalone freezer, but those that do use an average of 1,150 kWh to run it. Save energy by setting your refrigerator to 38 degrees Fahrenheit, cleaning the condenser coils as recommended by the manufacturer, allowing air to circulate around and behind the refrigerator and replacing the door seals if they are worn.

    Washer and Dryer

    • Clothes washers average about 120 kWh per year, which is only 0.9 percent of household electricity use. Additional energy is necessary to heat water for washing clothes with the hot or warm cycles, so save energy by washing with the cold cycle whenever possible. Clothes dryers use 5.8 percent of household electricity, or 1,079 kWh per year. Don't over-dry clothing; if your dryer has a sensor that turns off the unit when the clothing reaches a certain moisture level, use it.

    Microwave, Range and Oven

    • A range top uses 536 kWh annually, or about 2.8 percent of household energy consumption. The oven uses 1.8 percent of the home's energy, or 440 kWh per year. A microwave oven uses 209 kWh, and is the most efficient choice for heating small portions of food. Toaster ovens are also a more efficient option for cooking, using only 50 kWh per year, or 0.2 percent of energy consumption. When cooking on the range top, use the appropriate-size burner for your pan to avoid wasting energy.

    Dishwasher

    • Approximately 57 percent of American households have a dishwasher. Dishwashers use an average of 512 kWh per year, which is 2.5 percent of total usage. To save energy while using your dishwasher, only run it with full loads --- it takes as much power and water to clean just a few dishes as it does to clean a complete load. Dry your dishes by hand, or use the no-heat drying option, if available. Scrape dishes instead of prerinsing to save water.