Smart appliances and good habits in the kitchen and laundry room can make a surprising difference in energy efficiency at home. While many people think the biggest costs come from heating or cooling, appliances running daily often use more electricity than expected.
"The typical all-in electric price for electricity in the United States is roughly 20 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh). Some states are more, and some are less, but that’s a good average and provides some context for how usage is related to what consumers pay for their electricity," explains Timothy J. Harper, President and CEO of Nationwide Energy Partners. "Every kWh you don’t use saves you about 20 cents."
With that in mind, small adjustments in the laundry room and kitchen can add up quickly.
Smarter Laundry Room Habits
Laundry is a steady source of energy use. A few changes can lower the bill. Harper ran us through a full list of scenarios. Which can you adopt into your routine?
- Run full loads of laundry. Sure, you can usually reduce water consumption by doing a smaller load, but it still takes energy to use the machine.
- Clean the dryer filter. "This shortens run times, and air-drying even part of a load saves electricity,” he notes.
- Use cold water. "Roughly 90% of the energy in a wash cycle comes from heating the water. By switching to cold water, the average household can cut more than $100 a year without sacrificing cleaning performance."
- Choose off-peak hours. Late evening or early morning can be better if you’re on time-of-use pricing, since rates may be lower. Even without special pricing, staggering laundry outside of the busiest hours helps the grid.
And if you live in an apartment without in-unit laundry, energy savings still matter. Harper notes, "For renters without in-unit laundry — and about a third don’t have it — it’s worth knowing that your water heater is still one of the biggest drivers of your bill. A tank water heater can consume over 100 kWh every month just keeping water hot. That’s $20 or more added to your bill before you even wash a dish or take a shower."
Smarter Kitchen Habits
The kitchen is another place where habits can outweigh hardware.
“In the kitchen, the refrigerator is another always-on appliance. Keeping it set between 37–40°F, avoiding overcrowding, and checking the door seals ensures it runs efficiently."
Dishwashers are another surprise: they usually save energy compared to handwashing. “Handwashing in hot water can use 8 - 12 kWh per wash (about $2.40 a day), which is four to six times more energy than running a dishwasher which uses about 1 - 3 kWh per use (about 60 cents a day)," explains Harper.
He does the math for us: "That’s the difference between roughly $18 a month with a dishwasher and $70 or more if you’re filling the sink with hot water every day."
For those wondering when to run a dishwasher, the same advice as laundry applies: late evening or overnight is often best, especially if you’re on a time-of-use plan.
And for people without a dishwasher, other small changes help. "If you don’t have a dishwasher, you can make up that difference by unplugging small appliances and electronics that draw power when idle."
Standby Power and Everyday Savings
You might not be able to control energy use of your fridge and freezer, but vampire appliances are everywhere in your home. We're talking mini air fryers, ice cube machines, toasters, and technologies.
Even when these small appliances aren’t in use, many continue to draw power.
"Standby power — sometimes called phantom load — is an area where renters have real control," Harper notes. He offers the following calculations:
- Even if they’re not actively charging, laptops, phone chargers, and tablets plugged into an outlet draw about 5 kWh per year.
- Coffee makers, chargers, and gaming consoles also quietly draw energy 24/7.
- An Xbox left in instant-on mode - where it uses nearly 250 kWh - is the perfect example: it can add $50 a year to your bill just sitting there. But in energy-saver mode it uses about 4 kWh annually, and costs less than a dollar (about 4 kWh).
Even if you don’t have the newest smart appliances, power strips with on/off switches are a low-cost way to cut this hidden usage.
Smart Appliances and Renters
Many renters worry they don’t have much control over energy use; however, habits matter even more in apartments.
NEP is particularly attuned to these efficiencies for renters.
"Good energy habits matter year-round for homeowners and renters, but they can have an outsized impact for renters. Renters often pay higher energy bills than single-family homeowners because they can’t control things like insulation or appliance efficiency. That’s why the choices inside the apartment are so critical."
For those in newer apartment buildings, heating and cooling systems add another layer. He notes, "Many buildings built in the last decade use all-electric heat pumps, thanks to building codes and incentives for developers. These systems are efficient most of the year, but when temperatures drop below freezing, they can suddenly drive usage through the roof."
Unfortunately, most renters aren't provided with the information to use their HVAC systems efficiently. Even adjusting fan settings can make a difference.
"We’ve seen cases where a renter’s winter bills were devastatingly high simply because the thermostat wasn’t set properly," Harper cautions. "The good news is that with the right settings - avoiding the emergency or e-heat mode - a resident can save hundreds of dollars over a single heating season.”
FAQ
Is it cheaper to run appliances during certain times of day?
Absolutely, especially if you’re on time-of-use pricing. Make it a point to run laundry or dishwashing loads at night or early morning for cost savings. And even if you’re not on a time-of-use plan, spreading usage away from peak afterschool/dinnertime hours helps reduce strain on your local electric grid.
Do smart appliances really save money?
It isn't guaranteed, but it can help!. Most smart home connected appliances are ENERGY STAR, and often come with features like energy monitoring, scheduling, and eco-modes. These help you run machines at the most efficient times and use less electricity.
Does air drying laundry really make a difference?
Yes! So much so that homeowners in many countries around the world only have a clothes washer—no dryer. Dryers use a lot of power, and air-drying lowers costs. Even if you can only air dry part of a load, it'll make a big difference over time.
