According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the one appliance that uses
by far the most energy after heating and cooling equipment is the hot
water heater. This means the appliances that rely on hot water, such as
the dishwasher, are costing you even more. The best move you can make
when upgrading your water heater is to switch to an energy efficient or
tankless model. From there, the next major appliance putting a dent in
the electricity is the clothes dryer with the refrigerator coming in at a
close second.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, this is how the numbers
break down for the average home. These figures assume your home has
newer appliances, however. The numbers would shift dramatically if the
refrigerator or freestanding freezer were 15 years old, for example.
- Water heater – 2400 kWh for a family of two
- Clothes dryer – 1000 kWh
- Refrigerator – 600 kWh
- Dishwasher – 300 kWh
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Clothes washer – 200 kWh