How much energy does my home use?

It is rare to find any home without electricity today. In fact, with the exception of some remaining traditional Amish communities that forgo electricity, it is typical to find nearly all homes heavily dependent on electricity for all of their power needs. In many cases, the electricity is not being used efficiently. It is one of our modern comforts that we are able to power several household appliances, along with television, stereo and music components, computers, heaters and air conditioning units. Electricity even fulfills our hot water demands by pumping the fans to burn the fuels, and in some sectors, electricity is being used to power up transportation vehicles, including the every day family car.
Due to the diverse nature of electrical usage, and the ways in which people may use or misuse it, electrical bills for different homes can differ significantly.

And of course electricity is not the sole source of energy that can be utilized in a home. There are several different types of fuel that can power up a home. For example, natural gas, oil, and propane are all traditional sources of energy that continue to be popular with many people. Natural gas is the most common type of fuel used in urbanized areas since the pipelines that deliver it to homes is still a very efficient method of delivery. If you are unsure about which sources of energy are powering your home or how much it is costing you, it is good to get into the habit of keeping a record of each fuel’s consumption in your home on a month to month basis, over a period of time, so that you are aware of your home’s particular needs.

Electrical Consumption
One available measurement is the electric meter in your home. You can keep track of your electricity consumption by recording the number of kilowatts hours used from a start time to an end time. Your electric provider can also provide you with an average community usage figure, along with your personal average usage, so that you can compare the amount of electrical power you are using in your home and how you might be able to better conserve the energy that is flowing into your home. If the community average is lower than your own consumption figure, it would be wise to consider how electricity is being consumed in your home.

As you move toward cleaner and more conservative energy use, it may be necessary to start incorporating basic measures of power conservation before you consider installing a solar energy system to enhance your home’s power consumption. Moreover, if your current power consumption is already high and you do not take conservation measures, there may not be a noticeable change in efficiency with your solar system. There will continue to be misuse and waste of energy.
One of the things you may consider is installing a household meter, such as the Energy Detective ™, which is able to display your consumption immediately. These types of tools are increasingly popular with