U.S. Residential Miscellaneous Electric Loads Electricity Consumption

Panel: Strategies for Appliances, Lighting, Electronics, and Miscellaneous End–Uses

Authors:
Kurt Roth, TIAX LLC
Kurtis McKenney, TIAX LLC
Chris Paetsch, TIAX LLC
Ratcharit Ponoum, TIAX LLC

Abstract

Miscellaneous electric loads (MELs) comprise a wide range of devices, ranging from consumer electronics and portable lighting to electric kitchen equipment and ceiling fans. Studies in the late 1990s found that MELs accounted for a significant and growing portion of U.S. residential electricity consumption. Furthermore, more recent studies indicate that MELs could account for more than half of home total energy consumption in highly efficient homes. Due to the rapid evolution of the installed base, power draw by mode, and usage of many MELs, most notably consumer electronics, the U.S. Department of Energy commissioned a study to evaluate the per household and national (U.S.) electricity consumption of residential MELs. Using a bottom-up methodology, we developed estimates for the penetration, saturation, average power draw by usage mode, and average annual usage by mode of 21 key and 9 secondary MELs, as well as preliminary evaluations for more that 50 "other" MELs. The more than 5 billion MEL devices consumed about 359 TWh per year, or about 27 percent of residential electricity consumption in 2006. Together, MELs consume more electricity than any other residential end use. Televisions and set-top boxes (25%), portable and outdoor lighting (17%), and PCs (12%, including monitors and peripherals) account for more than half of residential MEL energy consumption.