Changes over past decade spark lowest U.S. energy consumption since 2001

U.S. electricity use on the average dropped in 2013. Photo by Flickr user See-ming Lee

Average electricity usage in U.S. homes declined in 2013 to the lowest level since 2001.

The drop to 10,819 kilowatt-hours per household marks the third straight year of decline, the Energy Information Administration reports, from 2010’s high of 11,504 kwh.

The lowering consumption trend is linked with the advent of more energy efficient homes and gadgets. The Associated Press reported that stricter building codes forced better insulation in housing that resulted in less energy wastage, with new federal energy standards requiring more efficiency in large appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioning units seeing reductions in energy requirements. The higher usage of mobile devices in the past few years, including tablets and smartphones, over desktop computers also contributed to drops. However, with Americans using more devices than in the past, much of the savings in energy are offset by sheer usage and number.

Will the trend continue in 2014? The Energy Department thinks so, with residential electricity usage predicted to drop next year by one percent.