Appliances

People tend to accumulate things. TVs, sound systems, computers, printers, home office equipment, hobby tools, etc. Many of these have "instant on" features which means they are never really "off". Some appliances use more energy while they are "off" than when they are "on".

The average electric use per home has risen steadily over the years in spite of appliances being more energy efficient and homes being better built for energy efficiency. More appliances and toys increase energy use, no matter how efficient they are.

Think about all the small appliances that use electricity when they are "off". Cordless phones; answering machines; VCRs; clocks everywhere on microwaves, ovens, VCRs, radios. All are small, but they add up when there are a lot of them.

Second refrigerators and freezers, particularly older ones in the garage, or other hot places, can use a lot of electricity. If the coils behind them are not cleaned regularly it will increase electricity use.