Alert! These 8 Electronic Devices Make Your Electricity Bill Soar, Check the List

Use of Electronic Devices at Home and Its Impact on Electricity Bills

Using electronic devices at home makes life easier and more comfortable. Starting from turning on the AC when the weather is hot, using the washing machine to lighten household chores, to enjoying entertainment via the TV in the family room — everything has become part of the daily routine. However, behind this convenience, there is often one thing that often goes unnoticed: the spike in electricity bills every month.

Many people don’t realize that some devices at home actually suck more power than they imagine. Without realizing it, small habits such as leaving the appliance on even when not in use can increase expenses. So, which devices “eat up” the most electricity at home and are often the culprit for soaring bills? The following is a list of devices that often cause energy waste:

1. Air Conditioning (AC)

AC can contribute up to 45-50 percent of the total monthly electricity consumption. The average AC has a power of around 300 watts. The habit of turning on the AC even when the room is not in use makes it the biggest contributor to electricity waste. According to STEI ITB Electrical Engineering Lecturer, Syarif Hidayat, AC is often a waste of money because it is often turned on in an empty room. “If you look at the opportunities that are most wasted without being used, the biggest is AC,” he explained.

2. Water heater

Water heaters contribute about 12 percent of total electricity consumption. Even if used briefly, the heating element draws a lot of power in a short time.

3. Lights

Electronic lighting devices at home, aka lamps, occupy the next position as electronic devices that waste electricity. Even though they are small, lamps can consume a lot of electricity because they are large in quantity and used more intensively. It is estimated that the use of lights can consume around 9 – 12 percent of the total monthly electricity use at home. The power of each lamp is small, only 7-10 watts. However, the quantity is large and the duration of use is long. Many homes leave the lights on even when the room is not in use.

4. Refrigerator

Because it has to be on 24 hours, the refrigerator contributes around 8 percent of monthly electricity consumption. How it is used also affects efficiency, for example opening the refrigerator door too often makes the compressor work extra.

5. Washer and Dryer

The electricity consumption of washing machines and clothes dryers actually depends on the user’s intensity of washing clothes. However, when using a washer and dryer, they tend to use up a lot of electricity. On average, using a washing machine and dryer can consume around 5 percent of total annual electricity use.

6. Electric Oven

An electric oven is a tool that can increase your electricity bill. The heater in the oven requires a lot of electricity. The average electric oven can consume around 3 percent of total monthly electricity usage.

7. Dishwasher (Dishwasher)

Then, there is a dishwasher or dishwasher. Dishwasher consumes relatively low amounts of electricity. If you use this device at home, the dishwasher consumes around 2 percent of your total monthly electricity usage.

8. TV

The next electronic device that wastes electricity is the TV. With a power of around 90-120 watts, the TV is often left on even when not watching. “We sleep in front of a TV that is left on, which can waste electricity. Or just leave it on in the room,” explained Syarif. Apart from that, a TV is sometimes equipped with a device that converts analog signals into digital signals or what is usually called a decoder. Using a set-top box can increase the TV’s electricity consumption. The reason is, even if the TV is off, the set-top box will still be on when not in use. As a result, the combination of TV and set-top box can consume around 2 percent of total monthly electricity usage.

Electricity Saving Tips

So that electricity bills do not increase, people are advised to:
* Unplug when the appliance is not in use, don’t just turn off the switch.
* Use the device as needed, and avoid turning on the device in an empty room.
* Choose products with energy saving features.
* Enable power saving mode if available.
* Replace lights with more efficient LEDs.

By identifying the most wasteful devices and implementing wiser usage patterns, your home remains comfortable without increasing your electricity bill.