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Insights > Electricity Use: Outpacing the Population Itself
Electricity Use: Outpacing the Population Itself
07/14/2020
Electricity has become so ingrained in our daily lives, we hardly think about it – unless the power is out. Not only do we take for granted the convenience of working lights and appliances at home, but also that our office equipment, cell phones, and other wireless devices we rely on are energized and can be charged when we need them. When they are not, it can bring our normal lives to an abrupt halt.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average person consumes about 914 kWh of energy per month. However, according to the EIA, global energy consumption is increasing at a rate faster than the world population due to a rise in individual energy consumption.
Now that many of us are home more than before due to COVID-19, residential customers are using more power. In Arkansas, it’s about 7 percent more than usual. More computing, more TV, more cooking, more air conditioning – it all takes power.
Luckily for Arkansans, our residential electricity rates are roughly 25 percent below the national average. At Entergy Arkansas, we’re not only employees, but customers as well, so we can appreciate that on multiple levels.
Still, it's a good time to consider ways to conserve electricity. Some common ways of doing so include using energy efficient appliances, ensuring appropriate insulation, replacing single-pane windows, and installing programmable lights and thermostat that can be adjusted for when you’re not at home.
Here are some quick tips for reducing your household’s energy consumption:
- Turn off the lights and draw open the curtains on the sunny side of your home in winter and the shaded side during warmer temperatures. The natural light is cheaper and can be very pleasing. In the summer, do the opposite: block out sunlight with curtains or blinds.
- Unplug electronics that are not currently in use, as they consume energy even if they’re not on. And don’t charge cell phones overnight, as a couple hours should do it.
- Replace incandescent lightbulbs around your home with LEDs, which are more efficient.
- Dress for the weather and use ceiling fans to make your home comfortable – counter-clockwise in the summer and clockwise in the winter.
Entergy offers efficiency initiatives as part of our Entergy Solutions programs. Visit the site to find ways to save energy and money.
In a world where everything seems unpredictable, it is good to know that your electricity isn’t.
