May is National Electrical Safety Month! Whether you are working from home, learning from home, or just spending more time at home, it is important to make sure your home is electrically safe, secure, and efficient.

Here are some facts about the average energy use in your home, steps you can take to increase the efficiency of your home, and information on common electrical safety devices.

Average home energy use

Do you know the average amount of energy your home’s appliances are using? According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), the following appliances and electrical systems consume the most energy:

Air Conditioning: 17% of total home energy use
Space heating: 15% of total home energy use
Water heating: 14% of total home energy use
Lighting: 10% of total home energy use

Prepare your home for safe & efficient energy use

There are several ways you can improve the safety and efficiency of your home. Some of the easiest ways include:

Using a smart plug or power strip to control the power to devices when not in use
Switching to LED lightbulbs, which last longer than traditional bulbs and use 25-80% less energy.
Utilize energy-efficient space-heaters and fans when possible.
Installing a home automation system to control your HVAC and lighting systems.

Smart Outlet

Common electrical safety devices

There are many common electrical safety devices you probably already have installed in your home. These include:

AFCI breakers and outlets that protect you and your family against arc-faults (which can lead to fires).
Grounded outlets that protect against electric shocks.
GFCI outlets and breakers required to be installed wherever water and electricity may come into contact. These special outlets protect against ground faults.
Surge protection devices that safeguard your appliances and electrical systems against damaging power surges which can destroy electrical equipment.