How Much Energy Does a House Use?
Energy efficiency is a driving concern for many prospective homebuyers and homeowners who want to reduce monthly expenses. Knowing how much energy a house uses in a day can help homeowners determine if their general consumption is normal or if they can implement big opportunities for reduced consumption. Read through this overview of typical energy consumption and some of the most significant factors that affect a home's energy usage.
How Much Energy Does a House Use?
The average home needs a lot of energy. The Energy Information Administration places the average home consumption at just under 11 kilowatt-hours per year, or just over 1 watts daily. However, this can vary tremendously based on the season, the homeowner's routine, and dozens of other factors. Knowing how much energy a typical house uses can help you estimate your energy usage. Still, it's much more informative to audit an individual home's usage over time to uncover potential waste or indications that your property is efficient.
Knowing the energy consumption of your home offers these strategic benefits:
- You can "budget" your energy consumption to peg usage to state or regional averages.
- You can discover surprising sources of energy consumption you might not have been aware of, such as insulation gaps, drafty windows, or appliances that consume power even when not in use.
- You can implement energy-efficient solutions and measure their impact over time.
Factors That Influence Home Energy Use
Starting with a general average of how much energy a house uses is simple, but it might not be accurate for your home. For example, Chicago-area homes use 44% more BTUs of energy per household than the national average because of the high demand for heating in the cold winters. At the same time, smaller urban homes are more efficient and use far less. Consider these four factors and how they can drastically impact the total energy consumption of one home compared to another.
Home Size
One of the biggest factors that impacts your energy footprint is the size of your home. The bigger the home, the more energy it takes to heat and cool. While you can implement some effective changes to adjust it, such as a smart thermostat or thicker insulation, the sheer volume of space that needs to be conditioned sets hard limits on how much you can reduce your footprint.
Your Home's Building Materials
Another important factor is your home's construction. Consider factors such as:
- Insulation inside the exterior walls and around your attic can help keep the internal air at the right temperature with less energy loss.
- Windows: If you have many windows, your home is likely less energy efficient simply because siding and brick exterior are better at insulation. But checking for drafts and investing in double- or triple-pane windows can help.
- Building materials with more thermal mass, such as bricks, can hold onto heat from a sunny day and release that heat slowly at night, reducing energy demand.
Number of Appliances
Aside from the home itself, it's also important to consider your direct energy use through appliances. How often do you turn on the oven or do laundry? Do you have a lot of computers on most of the day, and do you have a large household that uses a lot of hot water? These different considerations also impact energy use and can be easier to control and monitor compared to other factors.
Location
Finally, location is a major factor. Your home will need more heating in the winter, especially in the Chicagoland area. Being close to the lakes and whether your home is north-facing or south-facing can impact how the elements affect your home.
Making Your Home More Energy-Efficient Starts With Knowing Your Home's Consumption
The more knowledge you have about general home energy consumption and your home's specific usage, the better. You can then start implementing energy-efficient tactics or shop for the right energy supplier.
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