How heating, water heating and major appliances drive household energy costs

Sarah Komasová from the STEM analytical institute explains that the dominant share of residential energy use comes from heating spaces and preparing hot water. After these, the biggest consumers are large electric devices that run continuously, notably refrigerators and freezers, then dryers and washing machines. Targeting these areas—such as optimizing room temperatures and improving the operation of major appliances—offers the greatest potential for cost reduction.

Data from STEM, gathered under the TAČR project on energy consumption transformation, show that pool heating, with more than 800 annual operating hours, is among the most demanding loads. Climate control systems follow, with usage approaching a thousand hours per year, especially in summer when they run several hours daily, while winter usage drops to about a third of that amount.