Electricity Use in a Home

Source: 2009 Building Energy Data Book, U.S. Department of Energy, Table 21.5. Represents an all-electric home, updated February 2011.

39.4% Space Heating and cooling

12.5% Water Heating

11.6% Lighting **   

9.3% All other uses

8.1% Electronics

7.2% Refrigeration

6.2% Washer, Dryer, Dishwasher

4.7% Cooking

1.0% Computers

** NOTE: The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, in effect January 1, 2012.


The Act includes provisions requiring light bulbs to use 30 percent less energy by 2014. The energy efficient standards are being phased in over a three-year period. As of January 1, 2012, the standards would effectively phase out the use of traditional incandescent bulbs.

100-watt bulbs in 2012

75-watt bulbs in 2013

60- and 40-watt bulbs in 2014

Traditional incandescent light bulbs will be replaced with halogen, compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL) - contains mercury or light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs.

It used to be “Father Knows Best” – now it is the “Federal Government Knows Best”

If your electric bill was $100 and using the above data, approximately $12 is attributed to lighting. With the new light bulb standards, how much will you save and how long will it take you to “pay back’ the increased initial cost of the light bulb.

This gives me a headache or is it the light?