Household energy usage
saving electricity is good for the environment;
carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas;
air pollution with exhaust fumes has a bad effect on your health.
estimate the amount of energy used in a household;
how to save energy in different ways
Household energy usage
Electricity demand is dependent on the number of family members, the number of electrical appliances, how long they last and how much energy they consume. At present, the aim is to use up as little energy as possible, while still achieving the same results. Old appliances are generally energy‑consuming, for example a refrigerator bought 10 years ago uses 3 times more energy than a new one with similar properties.
Electrical equipment is divided into different energy classes and has to have an energy labelenergy label. Energy class G devices are the least efficient and most energy‑intensive. The least energy is consumed by class A devices, especially by the most efficient ones – A+++. The energy label also indicates how much energy the appliances consume per year. These are estimates and are given in kWh.
The average annual electricity consumption in Poland is ca. 1900 kWh in a household where four people live. The electric heating and a refrigerator consume most of the energy.
Number of people in a household | Energy consumption (kWh) |
1 | 800‑1400 |
2 | 1100‑1700 |
3 | 1400‑2100 |
4 | 1700‑2500 |
Prodution of 1 kWh of electricity in the process of coal combustion means emitting 1 kg of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.Calculate how much energy your family uses per day and estimate how much carbon dioxide you have released into the atmosphere to allow the appliances you use to work.
Methods of saving the energy
Saving electricity means less energy consumption and less environmental damage. It also allows you to reduce your household expenses. The simplest way to achieve this is to switch on your electrical appliances only when they are needed, and when they are old and worn out, to replace them with new, more energy‑efficient alternatives (this also applies to the light bulbs).
It is worth remembering that many electrical devices, left in the so‑called standby mode (stand‑by), just like a TV controlled using a remote, also consume electricity. This can be up to 30% of the energy consumed during operation.
Appliance | Power of the unit (W) | monthly average time of work (h) | monthly average energy usage (kWh) |
CRT TV | 80‑150 | 140 | 14,0 |
LCD TV 32‑56’ | 150‑550 | 140 | 48,8 |
Desktop computer | 150‑250 | 180 | 36,0 |
Laptop | 40‑80 | 180 | 8,8 |
Light bulb | 100 | 120 | 12,0 |
Compact fluorescent light bulb | 21 | 120 | 2,4 |
Mobile phone charger during charging | 4‑6 | 20 | 0,08 |
Phone charger disconnected from the phone | 0,001‑0,005 | 652 | 0,002 |
Refrigerator‑freezer, production year 2000 | 250 | 672 | 67,2 |
Refrigerator‑freezer class A | 100 | 672 | 33,6 |
Refrigerator‑freezer class A++ | 60 | 672 | 20,0 |
Hi‑Fi tower | 30‑150 | 112 | 9,2 |
Hi‑Fi tower on stand‑by | 0,05‑25 | 560 | 2,0 |
Thanks to the information on the rating plates it is possible to determine, which electrical appliances consume the most electricity. One of them is a fridge, which works around the clock. A high power device is also an electric kettle. To save energy, you need to pour just as much water as you need. Similarly with the washing machine and dishwasher – they should be switched on when they are full. Do not leave the TV or the light on in rooms that are not used by anyone. It is also worth replacing traditional bulbs with LEDs, which consume about 20 times less energy.
1 kWh costs about 55 Polish groszy. If you think that in your house too much electricity is being used, estimate how much money you could save in a year if your electricity consumption were to decrease e.g. by 10%. Use your electricity billing data to find out about your annual electricity consumption.
What information does the energy label contain? Select all the correct answers.
- information about the appliance and its basic parameters
- information about its energy class
- information about its yearly energy usage
- information about the terms of warranty
Move the items to the appropriate category.
leaving the light on in empty rooms, always boiling the maximum amount of water in the electric kettle, replacement of obsolete appliances with more energy-efficient ones, replacement of traditional light bulbs by LEDs, switching on only a full washing machine, switching off equipment when it is not in use, not leaving the fridge open for too long., leaving your computer switched on all night, leaving equipment in stand-by mode, sleep with the radio or TV on, Washing of single plates in the dishwasher
| actions contributing to electricity saving | |
|---|---|
| actions that do not contribute to electricity saving |
Summary
Saving electricity in a household has an impact on the Earth's atmosphere, environmental resources and the household budget.
Energy saving means using efficient electrical equipment and using it rationally.
Keywords
energy saving, energy usage, LED
Glossary
etykieta energetyczna – etykieta zawierająca informacje o klasie energetycznej i podstawowych parametrach urządzenia, np. zużyciu energii, poziomie hałasu