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New Evidence of a Decline In Electricity Use By U.S. Households (wordpress.com)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the conservation-works dept.

There's some surprising news from the Energy Institute at the University of California's business school. America's households are using less electricity than they did five years ago. So what is different? Energy-efficient lighting. Over 450 million LEDs have been installed to date in the United States, up from less than half a million in 2009, and nearly 70% of Americans have purchased at least one LED bulb. Compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) are even more common, with 70%+ of households owning some CFLs. All told, energy-efficient lighting now accounts for 80% of all U.S. lighting sales.

It is no surprise that LEDs have become so popular. LED prices have fallen 94% since 2008, and a 60-watt equivalent LED lightbulb can now be purchased for about $2. LEDs use 85% less electricity than incandescent bulbs, are much more durable, and work in a wide-range of indoor and outdoor settings.
"I would add LED TVs replacing LCD, Plasma and CRTs," writes Slashdot reader schwit1.

2 of 318 comments (clear)

  1. Re:BS Bills Are Still The Same Amount by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Here is a chart of electricity prices in America since 1960. When corrected for inflation, prices today are about the same as 50 years ago. So, no, I don't think there has been any vast conspiracy to raise prices.

    I have cut my consumption by about 40% in the last ten years. Since California has tiered pricing, and all my consumption is in the bottom tier (about 10 cents/kw-hr), my electricity bill is less than half what it was in 2007.

    All my lights are LED.
    All TVs and monitors went from CRT to flatscreen.
    New more efficient refrigerator.
    New dishwasher with air drying.
    Attic fan to reduce need for A/C.
    Ceiling fans in all bedrooms.
    Clip fans under every desk.
    All outside lights triggered by motion sensors.

    And by far the biggest energy saver: Teenage daughter moved and and went to college.

  2. Key word "households" by Kohath · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The number of people in an average household has decreased. It's not surprising that fewer individuals use less electricity.