Chapter 2 – Appliance Consumption Reference

This chapter is a reference for electricity consumption by appliance type. All figures combine rated power with realistic duty cycles to give actual annual energy consumption — the number that matters for system sizing.

Tables show three columns:

• Low: efficient modern models, careful usage
• Typical: average EU household, average usage
• High: older or less efficient equipment, intensive usage

2.1 Kitchen Appliances

Refrigerator and Freezer

Modern refrigerators are among the most improved appliances of the past 20 years. EU A+++ models consume less than one-third of the equivalent 1990 model.

Duty cycle: ~30–40% for well-maintained units in a cool kitchen. Rises significantly in warm rooms or with poor door seal.

Cooking Appliances

Induction vs. ceramic: Induction transfers ~85–90% of energy to the pot; ceramic/halogen transfers ~55–65%. For the same cooking result, induction uses ~30% less electricity.

Refrigerator Notes

• Every 10 °C increase in ambient temperature adds ~15% to fridge consumption
• Defrosting a frost-free freezer accounts for ~15–25% of its consumption
• A fridge placed next to the oven uses 10–15% more energy

2.2 Laundry

Heat pump dryer vs. resistive dryer: Heat pump dryers use 50–60% less electricity per cycle. At 4 cycles per week, the saving is ~300 kWh/year — often justifying the price premium within 3–4 years.

Per-Cycle Consumption (more actionable)

2.3 Space Heating

Space heating is the largest variable in household electricity consumption. The range between “no electric heating” and “all-electric heating in a poorly insulated house” spans an order of magnitude.

The COP multiplier: A heat pump with COP 3 delivers 3 kWh of heat per 1 kWh of electricity consumed. Replacing 9,000 kWh/yr of resistive heating with a COP-3 heat pump saves 6,000 kWh/yr — roughly €1,200/year at €0.20/kWh.

2.4 Domestic Hot Water

Heating water is typically the second or third largest household load.

Per-person consumption estimate (hot water only):

• Low usage (efficient fixtures): 500–700 kWh/person/year
• Average: 800–1,200 kWh/person/year
• High (long showers, bathtub): 1,400–2,000 kWh/person/year

2.5 Computers, Entertainment, and Home Office

2.6 Lighting

The LED revolution has dramatically reduced lighting’s share of the electricity bill. An LED replacing a 60W incandescent uses 6–9 W for equivalent light output.

Per-Bulb Comparison (800 lumen / 60W equivalent output)

Replacing 10 incandescent bulbs with LEDs saves approximately 750–1,500 kWh/year depending on daily hours. At €0.20/kWh, that is €150–300/year.

Whole-House Lighting Estimates

2.7 Standby and Phantom Loads

Standby consumption is the electricity drawn when devices are “off” but still plugged in. It is invisible, constant, and surprisingly large in aggregate.

A household with older electronics and set-top boxes can easily have 500–700 kWh/year in pure standby consumption — equivalent to running a second refrigerator.

2.8 Summary: Annual Consumption by Category

The table below summarizes typical annual electricity consumption by category for a 4-person European household in a temperate climate.

Scenario A: No Electric Heating

Scenario B: With Heat Pump Heating (COP 3)

All rows identical to Scenario A, plus:

Scenario C: With Resistive Electric Heating

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