HOME ENERGY

AUDIT
January 2019 1

W.G.A.E. Nawarathna
160431D
 CONTENT
1. INTRODUCTION
2. ENERGY CONSUMPTION
i. ELECTRICITY
ii. GAS OR BIO-GAS
iii. FOOD
iv. PETROL/DIESEL
3. RESULTS
4. GRAPHS AND CHARTS
5. CONCLUSION & ENERGY SAVING METHODS

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INTRODUCTION
House energy consumption or domestic energy consumption is the total energy used in a house
for total work. This can be varied from country to country due to many reasons such as climate,
life patters, age and type of residence.

For the energy audit I have considered 31 days completed from 1st January 2019 to 31st January
2019.House consists of 3 people and all the energy sources are converted to energy units and
compared together as energy units as well as per cost. Further possible energy saving methods are
discussed.

Energy consumption for our house has been divided into four main groups as follows,

i. Electricity
ii. Gas or Bio-Gas (LP gas , firewood)
iii. Food ( Vegetables , fruits , dry food , meat)
iv. Petrol/Diesel

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ENERGY CONSUMPTION
i. ELECTRICITY
Billing period - 01.01.2019 to 31.01.2019
Units consumed = 79 kWh
As energy consumed = 79 x 3600 kJ
= 284400 kJ
Unit rate per kWh = Rs. 18.30
Charge for units consumed = 79 x 18.3
= Rs. 1,445.70
Fixed Chargers = Rs. 240.00
Charge for electricity consumed = Rs. 1,685.70

ii. GAS OR BIO-GAS

For cooking purposes LP gas and firewood are used. LP gas cylinder of 12.5kg can be used for an
average of 2 and half months.
Gas consumption per month = (1/ 2.5 ) x 12.5 kg
= 5kg
Net Calorific Value of LP gas = 46.1 MJ/kg
Energy consumption of LP gas = 5 x 46.1 MJ
= 230.5 MJ
Price of a 12.5kg cylinder = Rs. 1,900.00
Price accounts for one month = Rs. 760.00

Wood stove is also used for cooking purposes, therefore wood is used but free of charge.
Wood consumption = 5kg
Average energy content of kg of wood = 16.2 MJ
Energy consumption of wood = 5 x 16.2
= 81 MJ
Total energy consumption under gas and biomass = 311.5 MJ

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iii. FOOD

1. Rice
Average consumption per month = 20kg
Calories per 1kg of rice = 1300 kcal
Energy consumption of rice = 1300 x 20 kcal
= 26000 kcal
= 108784 kJ
Average cost of rice
Amount of “Naadu” = 10kg
Cost for Nadu = 95 x 10
= Rs. 950.00
Amount of “Samba” = 5kg
Cost for Nadu = 120 x 5
= Rs. 600.00
Amount of “Kekulu” = 5kg
Cost for Nadu = 85 x 5
= Rs. 425.00
Average total cost for rice = Rs. 1975.00

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 2. Vegetables

Calorie Energy
Consumption Energy
Vegetable Content Consumption Cost(Rs.)
(kg) Content(kJ/kg)
(kCal/kg) (kJ)
Beans 1 70 300 300 180.00
Brinjal 1 250 1046 1046 120.00
Big Onions 4 125 500 2000 440.00
Potatoes 2 708.33 3041.67 6083.34 180.00
Carrot 2 50 200 400 360.00
Beetroot 0.5 150 633.33 316.665 90.00
Leaks 2 250 1050 2100 360.00
Tomato 0.5 12.5 50 25 60.00
Green Chilies 0.5 400 1673.6 836.8 300.00
Cucumber 1 33.33 150 150 80.00
Cabbage 1 50 220 220 200.00
Pumpkin 0.5 150 650 325 60.00
Snake Gourd 0.5 17.64 73.81 36.905 50.00
Ridge Gourd 0.5 560 2343.04 1171.52 50.00
Jak fruits 1 950 3974.8 3974.8 100.00
Mushroom 0.5 70 300 150 80.00

Total 19136.03 2,710.00

3. Fruits
Calorie
Consumption Energy Energy
Fruit Content Cost(Rs.)
(kg) Content(kJ/kg) Consumption
(kCal/kg)
Banana 1 800 3400 3400 80.00
Pineapple 1 56.25 243.75 243.75 120.00
Papaya 1 400 1700 1700 60.00
Apple 0.5 350 1500 750 500.00
Orange 0.5 19.23 88.46 44.23 120.00
Guava 1 600 2600 2600 80.00
Lemon 0.5 100 433.33 216.665 150.00

Total 8954.645 1,110.00

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 4. Dry food
Calorie
Consumption Energy Energy
Item Content Cost(Rs.)
(kg) Content(kJ/kg) Consumption
(kCal/kg)
Dhal 2 3466.67 14504.54728 6933.34 260.00
Green gram 0.5 3470 14518.48 1735 70.00
Kidney Beans 0.5 3330 13932.72 1665 70.00
Milk Powder 1.6 4690 19622.96 7504 1,360.00
Sugar 2 3870 16192.08 7740 190.00
Tea Powder 0.5 10 41.84 5 500.00
Salt 1 0 0 0 240.00
Curry Powder 0.25 3250 13598 812.5 100.00
Turmeric
Powder 0.1 2042.25 8544.774 204.225 70.00
Chillie Powder 0.5 2820 11798.88 1410 58.00
Biscuit 0.5 3033.33 12833.33 1516.665 250.00
Cake 0.5 775 3233.33 387.5 450.00
Pastry Items 0.6 565 2355 339 180.00
Yoghurt 0.4 500 2100 200 315.00
Bread 1 9600 40600 9600 240.00
Wheat Flour 2 3640 15229.76 7280 180.00
Rice Flour 1 3660 15313.44 3660 120.00
Noodles 0.5 600 2500 300 120.00

Total 51292.23 4,773.00

5. Flesh , oil and miscellaneous

Consumption Calorie Content Energy Energy
Item Cost(Rs.)
(kg) (kCal/kg) Content(kJ/kg) Consumption
Chicken 1.5 1850 7650 11475 720.00
Fish 0.75 1000 4250 3187.5 262.50
Dried Fish 0.25 3710 15522.64 3880.66 125.00
Eggs 0.8 1550 6485.2 5188.16 400.00
Maldives Fish 0.1 11640 48701.76 4870.176 100.00
Sprats 0.25 1610.86 6740 1685 150.00
Sausages 0.5 2900 12100 6050 350.00
Coconut 10 3540 14811.36 148113.6 600.00
Coconut oil 1 8620 36066.08 36066.08 230.00
Butter 1 7170 29999.28 29999.28 960.00
Total 250515.456 2,107.50

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 iv. PETROL/DIESEL
Petrol is used for Scooter,
Petrol capacity consumed = 10.5L
=8.085 kg
Calorific value of petrol = 46.5 MJ/kg
Energy consumption of Petrol = 375.9525 MJ
Cost of 1L of Petrol (As at 31st Jan 2019) = Rs. 123.00
Expense for Petrol = Rs. 1291.50

Percentage of
Energy Percentage
Category energy Expenses (Rs.)
Consumption (kJ) expense
consumption

Electricity 284,400.00 14% 1,685.70 10%

Gas and Biomass 311,500.00 16% 760.00 5%
Food 1,034,582.36 52% 12,675.00 77%
Petrol/Diesel 375,952.50 19% 1,291.50 8%

Total 2,006,434.86 16,412.20

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 RESULTS
Final results of the items calculated under each category is listed as below.

Percentage of
Energy Percentage
Category energy Expenses (Rs.)
Consumption (kJ) expense
consumption

Electricity 284,400.00 14% 1,685.70 10%

Gas and Biomass 311,500.00 16% 760.00 5%
Food 1,034,582.36 52% 12,675.00 77%
Petrol/Diesel 375,952.50 19% 1,291.50 8%

Total 2,006,434.86 16,412.20

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CHARTS

Percentage Energy Consumption

Electricity
Petrol/Diesel 14%
19%

Electricity
Gas and Biomass
Gas and Biomass
15%
Food
Petrol/Diesel

Food
52%

Percentage Expenses
Petrol/Diesel 8% Electricity 10%

Gas and Biomass 5%

Electricity
Gas and Biomass
Food
Petrol/Diesel
Food 77%

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 Cost per one million kJ of energy consumption
14000
Cost in rupees per million kJ of energy

12000

10000

8000

6000

4000

2000

0
Electricity Gas and Biomass Food Petrol/Diesel
Category

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CONCLUSION AND ENERGY SAVING METHODS
 According to the results obtained by the energy audit it is clear that highest energy
consumption as well as expenditure has taken by the category of “food”. Total expenses
for month considered is Rs.16, 412.20 and total energy consumption is 2,006,434.86 kJ.

 Reducing energy can save money, increases energy security as well as reduce pollution.
Following are some actions that can be followed to minimize the overall energy
consumption.

 ELECTRICITY
 Ironing all the cloths necessary for a week or particular time period at one time.
 Using refrigerator in an efficient manner.
 Replace incandescent bulbs with CFL bulbs or LED bulbs.
 Use as much as natural light for day time work and switch off unnecessary bulbs.
 Do not keep electrical equipment in standby mode. Switch on only when they are
needed.

 GAS & BIOMASS

 Increase the usage of firewood as much as possible to reduce the gas consumption.
 Cleaning the burner regularly to give blue flame than giving yellow flame.
 FOOD

Percentage energy & expenses for food items

60.00%

50.00%

40.00%

30.00%

20.00%

10.00%

0.00%
Rice Vegetables Fruits Dry food Flesh,oil &
miscellaneous

Percentage energy consumption Percentage expenses

 Looking at the above chart we can understand that dry food items have highest
expense percentage.
 To reduce expenses, milk powder can be substituted by fresh milk which is cheaper
than powder and use them in a responsible manner, reducing waste.
 Grow our own food in our backyard
 Reduce the usage of unnecessary food items such as butter and pastry items.

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  PETROL AND DIESEL
 Use public transportation as much as possible.
 Avoid rush hours when driving.
 Accelerate the vehicle smoothly.
 Frequent maintenance of the vehicle.

REFERENCES
1. http://apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/info/books-

phds/books/foodfacts/html/data/data2a.html

2. https://www.fda.gov/Food/ucm063367.htm

3. https://www.nutrition-and-you.com/eggplant.html

4. https://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2767/2

5. http://www.fitbit.com/foods/Snake+Gourd/721573214

6. https://www.nutrition-and-you.com/luffa.html

7. https://www.nutrition-and-you.com/jackfruit.html

8. https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/count-your-calories-know-how-much-calories-go-

into-your-every-day-foods-1747821

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