To compute the cost of operating appliances, you need this information: The amount of electricity needed to run an appliance is measured in watts. The wattages shown in the following table are the average watts used per hour by each appliance. Your electric service bill is based on the number of kilowatt-hours (KWH) used. A kilowatt is 1,000 watts; a kilowatt hour is 1,000 watts used in one hour. To determine energy usage of an appliance
  1. Look at the wattage rating carried on the serial plate attached to the appliance or check the appliance instruction book. This rating is the total number of watts consumed in one hour of use. If you own an older model that does not carry the wattage rating, multiply the voltage by the amp ratings, also found on the serial plate. This gives you the wattage rating of the appliance. (Column 2)
  2. Estimate the average number of hours per year you will use the appliance. (Column 3)
  3. Multiply the total hours by the wattage rating. Divide by 1,000 to determine the kilowatts consumed per year. (Column 4)
  4. Multiply by the cost per kilowatt. Fuel adjustment and taxes are additional. (Column 5) Four cents per KWH was used for examples.
To summarize:
W (watts) = V (volts) × A (amperes)
1000 W (watts) = 1 KW (kilowatt)
1 KW × 1 hr = 1 KWH
KWH × rate = cost of operation
For example, if your coffee maker is rated like the one on the chart (894 watts), if you normally use your coffee maker less than a half hour a day, and if your rate is 4 cents per KWH, your yearly cost would be:

894 watts × 119 hours per year divided by 1,000 = 106 KWH

106 KWH × $.04 = $4.24 (cost of operating coffee pot one year)

For example, if you want a new clothes dryer, check the serial plate of the models you like. If the wattage rating of one model is 4,856 watts, and you estimate you will use the dryer about four hours a week, your energy usage will be 995 KWH per year. Example: Clothes Dryer--wattage rating:

4,856 watts × 205 hours per year divided by 1000 = 995 KWH per year.

995 KWH × $.04 = $39.80 per year.

Energy Efficiency Rating labeling is now being used with some large appliances (example, room air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers). This label indicates energy consumption and relative efficiency in comparison with other directly competitive models. Where practical, energy cost is also shown. Ask to see these labels when shopping.

This electricity consumption score card shows the typical wattage of various appliances families use. These figures are taken from a variety of sources and are estimates only. The actual amount of energy used by any one appliance will vary significantly depending on the size of the appliance, how much it is used and geographical area of use.

Electricity Consumption Score Card


Appliances Average
Wattage		 Average Hours
per year		 Est. KWH
Used/Year		 Cost Per Year
(at 4 cents)
Comfort/Conditioning
Air Cleaner 50 4320 216 8.64
Air Conditioner* 860 1000 860 34.40
Air Conditioner* 3,750 1000 3750 150.00
Blanket 177 831 147 5.88
Dehumidifier 257 1467 377 15.08
Fan, Attic 370 786 291 11.64
Fan, Circulating 88 489 43 1.72
Fan, Rollaway 171 807 138 5.52
Fan, Window 200 850 170 6.80
Heat Lamp (infrared) 250 52 13 .52
Heating Pad 65 154 10 .40
Humidifier 177 921 163 6.52
Space Heater--portable 1,322 133 176 7.04
Lighting Fixtures (when figuring, do each light fixture separately--then add together. Lighting is said to account for one-fifth to one-fourth of the average electric bill. 40 to 300
Food Preparation
Blender 386 39 15 .60
Broiler 1,436 70 100 4.00
Coffee Maker 894 119 106 4.24
Deep Fryer 1,448 57 83 3.32
Dishwasher 1,201 302 363 14.52
Disposer, waste-garbage 445 67 30 1.20
Egg Cooker 516 27 14 .56
Fry pan** 1,196 155 186 7.44
Knife, Slicing 92 87 8 .32
Microwave Oven 1,450 131 190 7.60
Mixer 127 102 13 .52
Range with oven 12,200 96 1171 46.84
Range with self-cleaning oven 12,200 99 1208 48.32
6" unit, high setting*** 1,400
8" unit, high setting*** 2,600
Oven built-in 6,000
Roaster 1,333 154 205 8.20
Sandwich Grill 1,161 28 33 1.32
Toaster 1,146 34 39 1.56
Waffle Iron 1,116 20 22 .88
Food Preservation
Freezer
---15 cu ft upright 341 3504 1195 47.80
---15 cu ft upright frostless 440 4002 1761 70.44
Refrigerator
---12 cu ft 241 3021 728 29.12
---12 cu ft frostless 321 3791 1217 48.68
Refrigerator-freezer
---14 cu ft 326 3488 1137 45.48
---14 cu ft frostless 615 2974 1829 73.16
Health and Beauty
Curling Iron 40 50 2 .08
Hair Dryer 750 51 38 1.52
Shaver 14 129 2 .08
Sunlamp 279 57 16 .64
Tooth brush 7 71 0.5 .02
Vibrator 40 50 2 .08
Home Entertainment
Radio 71 1211 86 3.44
Radio-Record Player 109 1000 109 4.36
Television
---Black-White
-----Tube 160 2188 350 14.00
-----Solid State 55 2182 120 4.80
---Color
-----Tube 300 2200 660 26.40
-----Solid State 200 2200 440 17.60
Housewares
Clock 2 8760 17 .68
Floor Polisher 305 49 15 .60
Garage Door Opener 350 30 10 .40
Garden tools
---edger 190 10 2 .08
---hedge trimmer 265 16 4 .16
Hot plate 1,257 72 90 3.60
Sewing Machine 75 147 11 .44
Trash Compactor 1,380 24 33 1.32
Vacuum Cleaner 630 73 46 1.84
Laundry
Clothes Dryer 4,856 205 995 39.80
Iron (hand) 1,008 143 144 5.76
Washing machine (automatic)
(2500 KWH/year including energy used to heat water)		 512 208 107 4.28
Washing machine (non-automatic)
(2497 KWH/year including energy used to heat water)		 286 266 76 3.04
Water Heater 4,474 1075 4811 192.44
*Based on 1000 hours of operation per year. This figure will vary widely depending on geographical area and specific size of unit.
**Thermostatically controlled units cycle on and off. Estimates of "hours of use" are based on the time the heat element is "on" and will be less than actual switch-on time.
***Number of hours used varies widely.