Surprising energy guzzlers in your bathroom that spike your bills

Let's explore the most energy-intensive devices in the bathroom. We've examined the equipment commonly used in this space to identify which ones have the greatest impact on our electricity bills.

Due to their high energy consumption, washing machines and dryers are often the first appliances that come to mind. However, washing machine electricity usage can vary significantly based on factors like energy efficiency rating, usage frequency, and program selection. For instance, a washing machine with an energy class A rating (the highest in the new A to G labelling system) will be used as an example.

A typical energy class A washing machine consumes approximately 0.13 gallons (or about 0.5 kWh) per wash cycle. If you use it every other day, the annual electricity consumption is around 90 kWh. How does this compare to clothes dryers? These appliances demand more energy: a full drying cycle at maximum load can use up to about 1.9 kWh, while a half-load cycle is approximately 1.2 kWh.

What about a combined washer-dryer? A typical model with an energy efficiency rating of D consumes around 2.6 kWh per complete cycle (washing and drying).

Surprisingly, the biggest "energy guzzler" in the bathroom is not the washing machine or dryer but the water heater. Many households still use these to heat water, which can consume up to about 7 kWh per day for models with a 53-gallon capacity and a 3000-4000 W heating element. Smaller water heaters, with a 13-gallon capacity, use about 2 kWh per hour of heating water.

The bathroom also houses smaller appliances that consume a fair amount of power, like hair dryers. A standard hair dryer with a 2300 W rating uses about 0.6 kWh for 15 minutes. If multiple users are drying their hair for up to an hour a day, the hair dryer's energy consumption can climb to 2.3 kWh.

However, there's good news for those who regularly use hair straighteners or curlers. Along with electric toothbrushes and shavers, these appliances are relatively low-energy consumers. An hour of use with a standard hair straightener consumes only about 0.05 kWh of electricity.

Lighting in the bathroom also poses no significant concern. Even with strong and numerous light sources, a standard LED bulb consumes only about 10 W, resulting in an energy use of 0.01 kWh per hour. That's hardly anything.

So, what are the best ways to save electricity in the bathroom? The strategies are straightforward and mostly involve managing the devices that use the most energy. Only do laundry when necessary, avoiding runs with a nearly empty drum. Wait until you have a full load. When drying your hair, use the highest power setting to save time and reduce energy consumption. The same goes for lighting: remember to turn it off when you leave the room or reduce the number of bulbs in use. These simple measures can lead to significant savings.