Domestic Power Struggles – how we use electricity in the home

"Knowledge is Power." - Francis Bacon









Want to save money on your electricity bills and reduce your CO₂ emissions? Then you may want to consider living with others, ditching the dishwasher and tumble dryer and being wary of those ubiquitous standby modes, according to a groundbreaking study carried out by the Energy Saving Trust, DEFRA and DECC.

The first comprehensive research of its kind into domestic electricity consumption in English households has shed some fascinating light on the habits of the nation. The in-depth study monitored non-heating electricity usage in 251 households over periods of between one month and one year to investigate consumer habits in single- and multiple-occupancy households.

Domestic energy use is a major contributor to CO₂ emissions and hence a prime target for reductions in pursuit of the ambitious carbon reduction pledge set out in the Climate Change Act. Hence, studies into household electricity use are vital in better understanding domestic behaviour and identifying the most effective means of reducing energy consumption while preserving our home comforts.

The monitored households consumed on average around 3600 kWh per year of non-heating electricity, around 10% higher than the national average. Unsurprisingly, refrigeration and lighting were found to be the highest consuming product groups.

Fascinatingly however, the electricity usage of appliances in standby mode was found to be significantly higher than expected, costing households on average between £50 and £86 per year. In addition, single-person households were found to consume as much electricity as family units, particularly with respect to cooking and clothes washing, resulting in significantly higher per-capita usage. 

Tumble dryers and dishwashers were found to be highly significant contributors to electricity consumption with households containing these appliances spending on average over four times as much to clean their clothes and crockery, compared to households without such appliances.  

These findings indicate that fairly modest lifestyle changes could significantly reduce domestic energy consumption. However, the rise in single-person households and the impact of this on domestic electricity consumption can be seen as a particularly worrying trend.

This post is based on the report, Powering the Nation, prepared by the Energy Saving Trust.

Image by Ryan Hyde