The conventional vacuum cleaner uses 1.4 kWh of power per hour, while robotic vacuums utilize 30 – 90 watts of electricity for every charge. As a result, robotic vacuums use 15 times significantly less power than traditional vacuums.
Normal vacuum cleaners use roughly 1000-1500 watts of electricity every year, resulting in 78 kWh; however, the robotic vacuum uses only 30-60 kWh of power to charge and run for around an hour.
Robot Vacuum power | Cost per charge | Vacuum cleaner power | Cost Hour |
120 Watts | 1.15 INR | 2200 Watts | 20.60 INR |
90 Watts | 0.86 INR | 2000 Watts | 19.13 INR |
50 Watts | 0.48 INR | 1400 Watts | 13.24 INR |
30 Watts | 0.22 INR | 1000 Watts | 09.56 INR |
20Watts | 0.19 INR | 650 Watts | 05.89 INR |
Factors affecting power consumption
Of course, just like with a traditional vacuum, the power consumption varies depending on a variety of factors such as the size of the home, cleaning frequency, and vacuum efficiency. The initial cost of a robotic vacuum cleaner is higher than that of a traditional vacuum cleaner, but the long-term pleasure of not vacuuming on your own and saving money and effort is well worth it.
The price of convenience
Robotic vacuum cleaners consume a lot of energy than you may imagine.
Previous generations projected that the twenty-first century will be full of innovative technologies. Self-driving automobiles, Smartphone-controlled door locks, and robotic household appliances are examples of their futuristic vision. However, as a result of these changes, new norms of convenience & cleanliness have emerged. When seen through the lens of energy usage, automatic vacuums demonstrate how, in the age of Smart Homes, cleanliness standards do not always match environmental sustainability.
Smart Home Technology has two types of advantages. Lifestyle benefits, like comfort, convenience, and safety, are the most well-known. Other advantages, albeit less prominent, include environmental benefits, as these items are touted as being more powerful than their traditional equivalents.
Robotic vacuum cleaners, or robotics, are the most extensively adopted appliance from this group of Smart Home Technologies. Today, more than Ten million robotic vacuums are in use around the world. The environmental and social impact of these smart devices was researched by a group of Australian researchers. The researchers studied the association between robovacs, cleanliness standards, and overall energy usage in Australian households by conducting in-home interviews & participant-led “technology tours.”
Energy-efficient robotic vacuum cleaner
Even though robotics is touted as being more energy-efficient, scientists discovered that households using these machines used more electricity. Robotic vacuum cleaners consume less energy per unit of time than manual vacuum cleaners, which is why they are referred to as “energy-saving” gadgets. Despite the authors’ expectations that robot vacuums would eventually replace manual vacuums, owners continued to utilize traditional vacs for “proper” cleaning.
While the robovac was entertaining, it was ultimately the least effective of the two and served solely as a supplement. Most homes accepted the shortcomings of their robotics and filled the gap with extra human effort, influenced by the amusement or emotional benefits of such machines. As a result, rather than reducing energy usage, the robotic vacuum increased it in the home.
Why use a robotic vacuum if it consumes more energy?
So, what’s the point of having a robotic vacuum if it increases your energy use (and your utility bill)? The answer, as per the researchers, is simple: higher cleanliness standards. According to the study, robovacs presented in clutter-free surroundings may be fueling hopes for a neater home. While tidiness tendencies shift over time, the report argues that Home Automation Technologies promote a new kind of pristine domesticity. The respondents in this study confirmed this by repeatedly mentioning the social unacceptability of clutter highlighted by “annoying” crumbs or panic dog hair on the floor. Even if conventional vacuums do the majority of the work in these families, robotic vacuums appeal to this idea of cleanliness.
Currently, the whole environmental impact of “smart” devices is not taken into account. While Home Automation Technologies can cut electricity consumption, this study reveals the reality of higher energy use within the home, at least in the context of robot vacuums. This study shows that it’s time to evaluate the unseen, environmental charges of Smart Home convenience, whether it’s owing to greater standards of hygiene or the emotional bond people have with these devices.
Santosh Kumar is an editor at unfoldstuffs.com and a professional content writer. With years of experience he is passionate for creating engaging, informative and impactful topics.