Miscellaneous Electric Loads and Lighting

Clothes and towels in the dryer, photo.

Miscellaneous Electric Loads (MELs)—appliances, entertainment centers, computers, and fans, or any devices other than those used for space heating or cooling, water heating, or lighting—generate heat as a by-product inside the home, thereby increasing space conditioning costs in cooling-dominated climates. Generally, every three kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy saved in MELS will reduce the air-conditioning needs by one kWh. Choosing EnergyStar® appliances and installing energy-efficient lighting—compact florescent lamps (CFL), or even more energy-efficient light-emitting diode (LED) lighting—are ways to reduce MELs and electricity costs.

Years of Research: 1999-2017

Sponsored by: Duke Energy, Florida Power Corporation, U.S. Department of Energy, and FPL

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