Electricity usage varies from home to home.
Electricity is often measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), however it can easily be converted to gigawatts, either through simple math or via Internet conversion tools. Tracking your own energy use by recording the monthly kWh figures on each electricity bill can help you figure out your own gigawatt figure for each year. Does this Spark an idea?
Average Annual kWh
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, which carries out an independent investigation and analysis of U.S. energy use, the average annual household consumption of electricity in 2008 weighed in at 11,040 kWh.
Conversion to Gigawatt
According to the UnitConversion.org calculator, 11,040 kW converts to 0.00001104 gigawatts (gW) per year for the average American household.
Ways to Save Electricity
Electricity can be saved through a variety of methods, including simply turning off the lights when you leave the room. Other options include using an outdoor clothesline or a laundry rack instead of a dryer, or washing your laundry in cold water instead of hot or warm temperatures. You can also use compact fluorescent bulbs instead of traditional light bulbs and space heaters to heat individual rooms in the winter rather than a central heating system for the entire house.
Tags: