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Energy Efficiency Auditing questions, answered by experts

To determine the right size generator for your house, you should calculate the total wattage of the appliances and devices you want to power during an outage. List all essential items, note their start-up wattages, and add them together.

Here are some typical wattage requirements for common appliances:

  • Refrigerator: 600 watts

  • Large dehumidifier: 700 watts

  • Large window air conditioner: 1,400 watts

  • Water heater: 3,000 to 4,500 watts

  • Electric furnace: 5,000 to 25,000 watts

A 7,500-watt generator might be sufficient for essentials like a refrigerator, freezer, well pump, and lighting circuits. However, for high-demand items like a water heater or furnace, a whole-home generator is a better choice. A portable generator may be enough if you only need to power a few critical items.

While home square footage can offer a rough estimate, it is not always a reliable indicator. For reference, here are some typical generator sizes based on square footage:

  • 1,000 sq ft: 6–9 kW

  • 1,500 sq ft: 7–10 kW

  • 2,000 sq ft: 10–14 kW

  • 2,500 sq ft: 12–16 kW

  • 3,000 sq ft: 16–20 kW+

For the most accurate sizing, consult a professional who can calculate your home's peak and average power consumption and recommend the optimal generator.

HVAC systems use the most household electricity. This major and essential system is responsible for heating and cooling your home all year round. Since they operate for a significant amount during the day, it consumes more energy than other appliances. 

Leaving lights on raises the electric bill, but not as much as having high-wattage light bulbs. The best way to save on electric costs is to swap your light bulbs to LED or CFL bulbs that use far fewer watts. You can also use smart lights and light switches to control usage via a smartphone or voice-controlled device.

Motion-sensor lights use one watt while on standby and five watts while turned on. They’re usually on for one hour over a 24-hour period, bringing the total wattage to about 28 watts per day. LED lights use around 6.5 to 8 watts while on. If you leave an LED light on all night, with night ranging from 10 to 14 hours, you’re looking at using 65 to 112 watts a night. You can minimally cut your wattage in half by switching to a motion-sensor light.

Yes, installing an attic fan can help lower your electric bill—particularly if you live in a hot and humid region. By replacing hot and stuffy air with cooler air, these fans help regulate the temperature in your attic and the rest of your home, taking some of the pressure off of your air conditioner.

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