Which Household Appliance Consumes The Most Energy?

Modern-day living is rife with conveniences — coffee makers that automatically make your coffee at a desired time, washers that can start a load of laundry from a prompt on your phone, and entire smart home setups that can be activated by saying, "Hey, Alexa..." But all these conveniences come at a cost, and that cost likely shows up in your energy bill. But what appliance is costing you the most? Turns out, it's your HVAC system.

Heating and air conditioning account for nearly half of the energy use in the average household in the United States, followed by dryers. So, contrary to what you might've assumed, it's not the toaster you never unplug or the old windows you need to insulate that are gobbling up your home's energy. Fortunately, though your HVAC system may be the biggest energy drain in your home, there are smart strategies to shrink its footprint and energy cost without sacrificing comfort or convenience.

Just like other appliances that run in cycles, such as your microwave and water heater, your HVAC system wasn't designed to operate for long, continuous periods. You could find yourself running your system for extended periods when your HVAC is in trouble and needs maintenance, or if your home spots high ceilings or an open floor plan that can increase your energy bills. Even your thermostat can be part of the problem if it's older and doesn't have settings to optimize usage, like automatically adjusting the temperature to ensure energy is not being wasted.

Also, if you like your house to feel like the Arctic in the summer and a tropical paradise in the winter, your seasonal comfort optimization is compromising the comfort of your electric bill. There are also other typically overlooked culprits to blame for your overworked heating and air conditioning system, such as poor insulation, dirty air filters, and drafty doors and windows. All of these factors play into your HVAC systems consuming excessive amounts of energy, but thankfully, they can also all be addressed to increase your energy efficiency.

The easiest and quickest way to reduce energy costs at home is to replace your thermostat with an Energy Star smart thermostat. It can learn your energy habits and automatically adjust the temperature in your home, possibly reducing your electric bill by 8% (per Energy Star). Some can offer insights into your usage to help you make better choices when heating and cooling your home. Smart thermostats are such a great idea for managing energy that even HGTV's Mike Holmes recommends them for reducing your bills. 

Another option is to properly seal doors, windows, attics, and other areas where you notice air leakage. These leaks can be mediated with caulking and weather stripping. Finally, getting professional maintenance of your HVAC system regularly will not only save you money on energy costs, but it also prolongs the life of your unit, saving you thousands of dollars in the long run when you don't need to replace the unit prematurely. Servicing your unit usually involves the replacement of the filters, cleaning of coils and drains, and checking refrigerant, to name a few. When the time finally comes to replace, look for Energy Star products to save money. The Energy Star label means your system has been independently certified to be cost-effective and good for the environment.