How Much Does it Cost to Operate My Appliances?
The answer depends on many factors, including: the number and kinds of appliances
you use; the way you use them; how long you use them; the number of people in your
household; and, the price you pay for electricity.
There are also seasonal factors. For example, in the summer, you may cook less,
use your lighting for shorter periods of time and use air conditioners or fans.
In the winter, your heating and cooking costs are probably higher, and your lighting
will be used for more hours during the day.
The addition of new appliances or new family members can also increase your electricity
use.
The appliances that cost the most to operate are the ones that require the greatest
amount of electricity to generate heat, such as your furnace, water heater or range,
or to cool, such as your air conditioning system. The cost of operating an electrical
appliance is calculated using these three factors:
- The number of watts the appliance uses.
- The number of hours the appliance is used.
- The cost you pay for one kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity. (A kilowatt-hour is
1,000 watts of electricity used for one hour.)
To calculate the cost of operating an appliance, multiply the wattage of the appliance
by the approximate number of hours you operate the appliance (the wattage of an
appliance is usually listed on the appliance). Next, divide by 1,000 this will give
you the number of kWhs the appliance uses. Finally, multiply the kWh use by your
cost per kWh as shown on your electric bill.
Example: Average Cost of Running a TV
Example: A television set is rated at 300 watts and operated for seven hours a day.
- Multiply 300 watts by seven hours (300 x 7 = 2,100 watt-hours)
- Divide by 1,000 (2,100 ÷ 1,000 = 2.1 kWh)
- Multiply the kilowatt-hours by the price of electricity. Let’s use 7 cents per kWh:
(2.1 kWh x 7 cents = 14.7 cents)
The TV set costs approximately 15 cents a day to operate.
|
Average Use
|
Typical Wattage
|
Estimated
Usage
(kWhs/mo)
|
Average
Use
($/mo.)
|
Above
Avg. Use
($/mo.)
|
|
Air Conditioner (5,000 BTUH room unit)
|
900
|
130-150
|
$9.10
|
$10.50
|
|
Air Conditioner (12,000 BTUH room unit)
|
1,500
|
250-300
|
$17.50
|
$21.00
|
|
Aquarium (air pump & heater)
|
150
|
80-100
|
$5.60
|
$7.00
|
|
Attic Fan
|
300-400
|
30-40
|
$2.10
|
$2.80
|
|
Blanket (electric)
|
170
|
12-24
|
$0.84
|
$1.68
|
|
Blow Dryer/Curling Iron
|
400-1,250
|
2-4
|
$0.14
|
$0.28
|
|
Ceiling Fan
|
80-100
|
10-15
|
$0.70
|
$1.05
|
|
Clocks (3)
|
4
|
3-4
|
$0.21
|
$0.28
|
|
Clothes Dryer (24-32 loads)
|
4,300-5,600
|
80-100
|
$5.60
|
$7.00
|
|
Clothes Washer (24-32 loads)
|
500-600
|
6-8
|
$0.42
|
$0.56
|
|
Coffee Maker
|
700-900
|
8-9
|
$0.56
|
$0.63
|
|
Computer (desktop)
|
700-800
|
40-55
|
$2.80
|
$3.85
|
|
Dehumidifier (continuous)
|
300-410
|
200-300
|
$14.00
|
$21.00
|
|
Dishwasher
|
1,200
|
30-35
|
$2.10
|
$2.45
|
|
Dusk/Dawn Light (175 watt)
|
175
|
36-63
|
$2.52
|
$4.41
|
|
Freezer
|
350-450
|
42-70
|
$2.94
|
$4.90
|
|
Furnace Fan/Boiler Pump
|
300-600
|
65-85
|
$4.55
|
$5.95
|
|
Humidifier
|
80
|
20-25
|
$1.40
|
$1.75
|
|
Lighting
|
1,600-4,000
|
75-150
|
$5.25
|
$10.50
|
|
Microwave
|
650-1,100
|
13-16
|
$0.91
|
$1.12
|
|
Oxygen Concentrator
|
250
|
180-200
|
$12.60
|
$14.00
|
|
Pool Pump
|
750-1,000
|
540-720
|
$37.80
|
$50.40
|
|
Portable Room Heater (1 hr/day)
|
900-1,500
|
45-55
|
$3.15
|
$3.85
|
|
Radio, Stereo, VCR
|
40-60
|
4-6
|
$0.28
|
$0.42
|
|
Range
|
12,000
|
75-100
|
$5.25
|
$7.00
|
|
Refrigerator (< 10 yrs. old)
|
475-550
|
45-55
|
$3.15
|
$3.85
|
|
Refrigerator (> 10 yrs. old)
|
475-550
|
65-75
|
$4.55
|
$5.25
|
|
Hot Tub (indoors)
|
750-3,000
|
150-200
|
$10.50
|
$14.00
|
|
Hot Tub (outdoors)
|
750-3,000
|
250-500
|
$17.50
|
$35.00
|
|
Television
|
300
|
30-40
|
$2.10
|
$2.80
|
|
Toaster/Toaster Oven
|
950-1,500
|
3-4
|
$0.21
|
$0.28
|
|
Vacuum Cleaner
|
700-1,400
|
3-4
|
$0.21
|
$0.28
|
|
Vaporizer
|
480
|
6-10
|
$0.42
|
$0.70
|
|
Water Bed Heater
|
300
|
70-80
|
$4.90
|
$5.60
|
|
Well Pump
|
950-1,400
|
40-60
|
$2.80
|
$4.20
|
|
Water Heater (30 gal. /1 person)
|
3,500
|
350-400
|
$24.50
|
$28.00
|
|
Water Heater (40-50 gal. /1 person)
|
4,500
|
375-425
|
$26.25
|
$29.75
|
|
Water Heater (each add. person)
|
NA
|
75-125
|
$5.25
|
$8.75
|
Calculations are based on a rate of 7 cents per kilowatt-hour.Your actual rate may
be different depending on where you live and the company that supplies your electricity.
These figures are averages and may not exactly reflect your household’s habits or
the energy efficiency and size of your home; however, they will help you estimate
how much electricity various appliances use and where your energy dollars go each
month.