Spending too much energy? Discover 10 electronic electricity bill villains

Saving energy is important not only to avoid any surprise at the end of the month, but also a way to contribute to the preservation of the environment and practice conscious consumption. According to CEMIG, electrical energy waste represents 18% of all energy consumed in the country. 

Energy consumption actually depends on how long you use an appliance or electronics, as well as its power. That is, for save energy, it is necessary to reduce the time of use or the power — such as, for example, using led lamps which have a lower wattage than incandescent bulbs

With that in mind, we list the electronic and electronic devices who consume the most energy at home.

In some cases, we calculate the expense of each one based on the market-weighted average residential tariff, as reported by the Aneel, the National Electric Energy Agency, in the amount of R$ 0,571. Aneel specifies that taxes or other additional costs, such as Tax on the Circulation of Goods and Services (ICMS) and Public Lighting Tax, were not included, but it is already useful to have an average value and think twice before forgetting the door of the open refrigerator. Check the list:

desktop and notebook

Um desktop with uses an average of 120 to 150 W per hour, according to data from Aneel. This can represent an expense of BRL 17,78 per month, considering a 12-hour use, especially in times of social isolation when we are connected most of the time. In one year, it is R$ 213,40.

Desktop powered on without use consumes 0,12 kWh per hour with monitor on. The screen is the component that consumes the most energy. Turning off the monitor can save 0,08 kWh per hour of usage.

Yes, laptops spend an average of 7,20 kWh, according to CEMIG data — considering an average use of 8 hours a day in 1 month of a device that has a power of 30 W. If you are thinking of replacing your desktop with a notebook, check out our list with you best laptops to buy in 2020.

Simple changes in habit can make a difference. The computer has two modes when you are not using it: one that suspends and one that turns off. The suspend uses more energy because only the screen is off — the CPU it keeps working. So if the computer is inactive for a long time, it's worth turning it off.

When buying a computer, look for the seal Energy Star, as they are products that consume less energy, mainly in stand-by.

Game Consoles

Even the consoles videogames are not immune: they can spend around 23 W per hour and 1 W when on standby, which could represent a cost of approximately R$ 30,60 in a year! 

This account can get even more expensive in the United States. For example, if you leave a console on 100% of the time, it could cost an American an extra 100 dollars. 

But most of the energy is actually consumed in the stand by mode of these devices. One Xbox One uses about half the energy in a year when it is in standby mode.

Another issue that arises is when consoles are used for other functions such as streaming movies. O PlayStation 3 uses twice as much power as a decoder and around 30 times more power playing streaming compared to a Apple TV.

We also published a video on our YouTube channel talking about how much each console from the biggest brands represents in your electricity bill, so check it out:

Set-top boxes and TVs

It may not seem like it, but set-top boxes need a lot of power, especially when they're on standby — in addition to clocks when no one is watching, they are true minicomputers that communicate with remote content sources or record content while you're away. 

The average monthly consumption of a cable TV decoder on standby can be 14,40 kWh. Let's go to the accounts: R$ 98,49 in a year.

Regarding TVs, a model OLED uses less energy than an appliance QLED. The explanation lies in the difference in technology between them: QLEDs have a backlight, the backlight, which consumes a reasonable amount of energy, whereas OLEDs have millions of individual pixels that produce light. They are a good option if you watch TV in a well-lit room.

Therefore, OLEDs have more vivid colors, brightness and contrast. Each pixel has autonomy in light emission. To reproduce the color black, simply turn off the lighting, ensuring “blackest blacks” and the highest energy efficiency and also being thinner and more flexible – as they don't need a back light panel. They are recommended for poorly lit environments or rooms with controllable lights.

When exploring your TV's features, such as ambient light sensors and screen saver, remember to set it to use less power. Some electronics use technologies that can reduce standby power consumption by up to 90%.

Microwave oven

The biggest danger of a microwave is not when heating food or popping popcorn: they consume more electricity when on standby – after all, you only use the microwave a small part of the time. According to a study by the Appliance Standards Awareness Project, microwaves are only used 70 hours a year. In 99% of that time, or 8,69 hours a year, the microwave can spend up to 35 kWh just to light clocks and keep electronic button controls in standby mode.

Air conditioner

Air conditioning is among the biggest villains of energy consumption. According to CEMIG's calculation, the average monthly consumption of an air conditioner can vary between 182,40 and 192,00 kWh, that is, R$ 103,96 and R$ 109,44 in a month, considering only one appliance in the house. For those who have more than one air conditioner, the energy bill is even higher.

When buying an air conditioner with a conscious energy consumption in mind, a tip is to give preference to models with the Procel Seal of Energy Savings. Those models that have a programming feature, such as a timer, can also be very useful. 

The different options for inverter air conditioner promise to save up to 70% energy compared to other common appliances. All because they do not have the traditional on/off system, but a frequency inverter. One example is the LG Dual Inverter Compact Split model for 12.000 BTUs, which varies from R$1.663,32 (cold) to R$2.554,55 (hot Cold).

Connected appliances are also great electronics for saving electricity, like the laptop. LG DUAL Inverter Voice. Forgot it on and can you imagine the damage to the energy bill? With these models, it is possible to control even outside the house, programming or turning off remotely.

Properly dimensioning the environment, avoiding excessive cold, keeping doors and windows closed, avoiding the entry of external air, not letting any objects or curtains prevent air circulation are some tips to avoid wasting energy, because if the rooms are not completely sealed, the cold escapes through the cracks and you waste energy (and money).

Electric shower

The electric shower is the biggest of all the villains of electricity bills, always appearing among the champions that spend the most electricity according to experts. The conversion of electrical energy into thermal energy requires a lot of power. Therefore, tips such as controlling bath time, not abusing hot temperatures when it is not necessary and choosing the power of the shower according to the region where you live (since the greater the power, the greater the energy expenditure) can contribute to consumption. conscious.

Consumption can vary depending on several factors, such as power, model and how fast it heats the water, for example. According to data from CEMIG, a 3.500 W electric shower can consume 70 kWh in a month, while another 5.000 W consumes 100 W, which could be equivalent to R$ 39,97 and R$ 57,10.

The electric mode is still more efficient than other heating systems. Compared to the cost of a heater, it is more economical, as electric showers spout hot water the moment they are turned on, unlike a shower with gas heating, which can take some time, which also wastes water to reach the temperature. desired. 

Other tips for saving energy are: give preference to models with the Inmetro seal (as they have been tested by the institute and provide information on the percentage of energy consumed that actually heats the water), keep the shower in the summer position (according to CEMIG, the savings is 30%), turn off the faucet when soaping, do not reuse a burnt resistor, as this uses more energy than a new resistor, in addition to being dangerous, as there is a risk of causing a short circuit in the bath, using the proper wiring and thickness compatible with the power and voltage, because the “gambiarras” can waste energy.

Devices that have electronic control can facilitate the gradual change of temperature, betting on the smart shower concept, such as the Shower Hydra Digital Polo Hybrid, which varies from R$272,89 (5500 W) to R$309,90 (7700 W). It has high heating performance, saving up to 91% of energy, because according to the manufacturer, the electronics will only use the power capacity necessary for heating the water, being among the Zoom's 10 best showers and showers of 2019.

Hair dryer

According to Aneel, the dryer consumes a lot of energy, especially if you need to use it frequently.

The power of a dryer will define how quickly the electrical energy in your home can be transformed into the hot air that comes out of the electronics to dry your hair (thermal energy). The higher the watts of the device, the warmer the air faster, but the greater the consumption as well.

Therefore, when buying a dryer, it is worth knowing what you are going to use it for. If the dryer is only going to be used to dry the hair after a shower, its power may be lower, especially if you use it infrequently. For professional use, such as in a hairdressing salon where the device will also be used for brushing, straightening, hairstyles, for example, a dryer with very high power is needed so that the professional can use it faster and more quickly.

A 1400 W dryer if used for 10 minutes daily in a month can spend 7 kWh on the electricity bill, which is equivalent to R$ 47,96 in a year.

One way to control the use of the dryer is to dry your hair well with a towel before using it, so it stays on for less time.

A device that aims to save energy, as the name implies, is the Taiff Echo. According to the manufacturer, it saves up to 40% of electrical energy in its consumption without losing high performance. By consuming less electricity, the Eco dryer is even more sustainable.

Refrigerator

The fridge can also be pretty “evil” on our electric bills. 

According to CEMIG, a frost free refrigerator (an electronically controlled refrigeration system, used even in commercial refrigerators and freezers, allowing a homogeneous temperature due to constant air circulation and that ice does not form on the walls of the freezer, making it easier to cleaning and maintenance of the appliance) and which has 1 door can generate an average expense of 30 kWh in a month, which would represent R$ 205,56 in a year. A frost free 2-door model would consume 50 kWh on average, which is equivalent to R$ 342,60 in a year. 

When buying the appliance, it is important to look for models that have the Procel Energy Savings Seal and the Inmetro label with information on average monthly consumption, choose the refrigerator that meets your family's needs, avoid opening the door unnecessarily. or for a long time, remove all the food you need at once, arrange the food to spend less time finding it and adjust the thermostat properly and cold seasons.

Another important care is the circulation of cold air, as the loss of cold air can waste energy. It is necessary, for example, to take care of the sealing rubber of the door so that it is always in good condition and leave spaces for the circulation of cold air.

There are some models equipped with Digital Inverter technology. As with an air conditioner, a refrigerator of this type can reduce consumption by up to 40% compared to conventional motors, as it does not generate energy peaks. Resources like Smart Sensor, present in the refrigerator Samsung Barosa, for example, promises to be an identifier of usage habits to enhance operation and spend less energy.

On the other hand, other models of Samsung's own refrigerator, such as the RF23R e RF22R, can consume 50% less energy than other conventional models.

some like the RF23R6301 e RF22R also bet on the Food Showcase, which helps consumers visualize the food they are looking for without having to open the smart fridge and contribute to food management. 

Sources: Aneel | Aneel | Aneel| CEMIG | National Geographic Brazil | Mail Braziliense | Digital Trends | VSBytes | c | net | Lifewire | Zoom | BBC | taiff