Electricity powers many of yourkey household products and appliances, but how much isactually needed to run them, and how much does this electricity cost?
Opower recently did a study on how much it costs to charge an iPhone 6. They calculated how long it took to get the iPhone’s battery from 0%to 100%, and found that it only took 10.5 watt-hours (Wh) of electricityto fully charge. Surprisingly, when crunching the numbers, they realized it only costs youa mere $0.47 to fully charge youriPhone everyday for a year.
We were inspired by this data, so we collected our own. We looked at 10 household productsand calculated how manykilowatt-hours (kWh) it takes for them to run if youuse them everyday for a year. We then used 12.29 cents asthe average price perkWh to come up with typical electricity costs. Here’salook at which of your household productsare using the most electricityand are likely busting your energy budget each month.
Hair Dryer Electricity Costs
The estimated time you use a hair dryer when you get ready is 30 minutes. Since it takes 1200 watts for a hair dryer to run for a full hour, that means it takes 600 watts, or 600 Wh, or 0.6 kWh to run for30 minutes. When multiplying thisusage by days in ayear, at a rate of12.19 cents per kWh, we find that you pay$26.92 per year to dry your hair everyday.
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Average run:30 minutes per day
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**Wh per use: **1200 watts per hour (per ½ hour use) = 600 Wh
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**kWh per use: **600 Wh/1000 = 0.6 kWh
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Cost: **0.6 kWh x $0.1229 x 365 = **$26.92 per year
Thissingle appliance is costing you almost $30 a year, and even if you don’t use itoften, the amount of wattage it requires for a single use is what may be increasing your energybill. To reduce the cost of this appliance, try using it less, if possible. One suggestion is to take fewer showers or let your hair air dry. You’ll use less water and, and therefore, less electricity that would normally be used to dry your hair. Make sure to unplug the appliance, as well.
Refrigerator Electricity Costs
A refrigerator must run 24 hours a day in order to keep your food fresh. This means that the180 watts it produces per hour must be multiplied by its24 hours of use. So, a refrigerator is actually using4320 Wh, or 4.32 kWh, everyday of the year. Multiplying this by 365 days at the average price per kWh, we find that your fridge is costing you $193.70 per year.
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Average run: 24 hours per day
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**Wh per use: **180 watts (per 24 hour use) = 4,320 Wh
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**kWh per use: **4320 Wh/1000 = 4.32 kWh
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Cost: **4.32 kWh x $0.1229 x 365 = **$193.70 per year
You’re spending almost$200 each year tokeep your food fresh. A refrigerator is a necessity, but itshigh electricitycosts arenot. To reduce the cost of this appliance, purchase one that uses less electricity. Energy Star appliances, and ones alike, can save you hundreds of dollars simply because of how they are made. These appliances are built more efficiently and effectively to save you money. You can also stock your fridge with cold items, so it will require less work to keep the food cool. Also, let hot items, such as soup and pasta, cool down before you put them in the fridge.
Laptop Electricity Costs
An average 14-15 inch laptop uses 60 watts when it charges for one hour, the recommended charging time. Therefore, it takes 60 Wh, or 0.06kWh, to fully charge. Whenmultiplying this by days in ayear atthe average cost perkWh, we find that it costs $2.69 a year tofullycharge your laptop everyday.
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Average run: 1 hour per day (recommended charge)
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**Wh per use: **60 watts (per 1 hour charge) = 60 Wh
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**kWhper use: **60 Wh/1000 = 0.06 kWh
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Cost: **0.06 kWh x $0.1229 x 365 = **$2.69 per year
Alike to the iPhone, this is an extremely minimal cost given how frequently a laptop is used. If you believe this electricitycostis too high, you can simply use the laptop until it’s completely out of battery thensetit aside to recharge. When alaptop is used whilecharging, it takes it longer and requires more energy to get to a full 100% battery.
Light Bulb Electricity Costs
An average incandescent bulb uses 60 watts an hour, whereas an average CFL bulb uses only 14 watts on average. The average home keeps their lights on for about 3 hours each day. This means that one incandescent bulb needs 180 Wh, or 0.18 kWh, to run for just three hours, and a CFL needs 42 Wh, or 0.042 kWh. So, one incandescent bulb costs $8.07 per year and one CFL bulb only costs $1.88 per year, a whole $6 less.
Both of these bulb costsmight seem low, but given that an average household has over 40 bulbs, your lighting, especially incandescent, can easilyhike up your electricitybills.
Incandescent Light Bulb
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Average run: 3 hours per day
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**Wh per use: **60 watts (per 3 hour use) = 180 Wh
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**kWhper use: **180 Wh/1000 = 0.18 kWh
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**Cost per bulb: **0.18 kWh x $0.1229 x 365 = $8.07 per year
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Total Cost: $8.07 x 40 bulbs =$322.80 per year
CFL Light Bulb
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Average run: 3 hourper day
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**Wh per use: **14 watts (per 3 hour use) = 42 Wh
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**kWhper use: **42 Wh/1000 = 0.042 kWh per use
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**Cost per bulb: **0.042 kWh x $0.1229 x 365 = $1.88 peryear
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Total Cost: $1.88 x 40 bulbs =$75.20 per year
The best way to save electricityand reduce the your lighting costs is to switch over to CFL or LED light bulbs. If you switch just one lightbulb, you willsave $6 per year. Imagine the savings you would getfrom switching over 10, 20, or even all 40 or so bulbs in your home.
Dishwasher Electricity Costs
Many of usthink a dishwasher usesmore water and electricitythan hand washing dishes, and they may be right, at least about the electricity. It takes about 1800 watts for a dishwasher to run for one hour, andthe average washer runs for more than 2 hours. This means it uses 3600 Wh, or 3.6 kWh, per average use, costing youover $161.50 if used everyday for a year.
To lowerthe cost of runningyour dishwasher, use it less frequently. If you use it only once perweek, for example, yourcosts will drop from $161 per year to just$23.
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**Average run: **2 hours per day
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**Wh per use: **1800 watts (per 2 hour wash) = 3,600 Wh
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**kWhper use: **3600 Wh/1000 = 3.6 kWh per use
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Cost to run daily:3.6 kWh x $0.1229 x 365 = $161.50
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Cost to run weekly:3.6 kWh x $0.1229 x 52 = $23
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Coffee Maker Electricity Costs
Youraverage coffee maker is used for 10 minutes to brew4 cups of coffee. It takes about 800 watts per hour for a coffee maker to run, which is about 133.33 Wh, or 0.133 kWh. This means you’respending $5.9o each year if youbrew coffee everyday. The electricitycosts fromyourcoffee maker arealmost as high as the incandescent light bulbs, but luckily, there is usually only one coffee maker per household, not 40.
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Average run: 10 minutes
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**Wh per use: **800 watts (per 10 minute brew) = 133.33 Wh
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**kWhper use: **133.33 Wh/1000 = 0.133 kWhper use
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Cost: **0.133 kWhx $0.1229 x 365 = **$5.90 per year
To reduce any extra costs from yourcoffee maker, make sure to unplug it after every use. A coffee maker willuseenergy simply by being turned on orplugged, even if it isn’t being used. For example, its other functions, like its clock or cleaning mechanism, automatically run throughout the day and drain electricity.
Washer & Dryer Electricity Costs
Washers and dryers are frequently used and wellknownfor their large energy use. What’s surprising, however, is that a washing machine requires way less electricitythan a dryer.
An average cycle for a washing machine is 30 minutes. This appliance, which is a widely used Energy Star model, needs500 watts per hour to run, which means it requires 250 Wh, or 2.25 kWh, to run for 30 minutes. If used everyday for ayear, a washing machine’s electricity costs are only $11.21. If runonly once per week, it would only cost $1.60 per year.
Washer
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Average run: 30 minutes
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**Wh per use: **500 watts (per 30 minute cycle) = 250 Wh
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**kWhper use: **250 Wh/1000 = 0.25 kWh per use
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Cost to run daily:0.25 kWh x $0.1229 x 365 = $11.21
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Cost to run weekly:0.25 kWh x $0.1229 x 52 = $1.60
Yourdryer, however, requires 3000 watts per hour use, and runs for an average of 45 minutes or more, depending on the load. One dryer cyclerequires 2250 Wh, or 2.25 kWh. That means you pay$100.93 for electricity if you run iteveryday for an entire year. However, ifyou run it only once a week, yourcost goes down to $14.38.
Dryer
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Average run: 45 minutes
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**Wh per use: **3000 watts (per 45 minute cycle) = 2250 Wh
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**kWhper use: **2250 Wh/1000 = 2.25 kWh per use
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Cost to run daily:2.25 kWh x $0.1229 x 365 = $100.93
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Cost to run weekly:2.25 kWh x $0.1229 x 52 = $14.38
A simple way to reduce your laundry’s electricitycosts is to air dry your clothes or only use the appliances once a week. Washing your clothes less and choosing to air dry not only saves energy, but it savesthe quality of your clothing as well. You could also replaceyour applianceswith Energy Star models. They are becoming more popular in the market, and, as shown, can save you a lot of money on your electricitybills.
Microwave, Oven & Stove Electricity Costs
We estimated that a microwave is used, on average, about 15-30 minutes per day. It takes about 1200 watts per hour for an average microwave to run. Therefore, it requires 300 Wh, or 0.3 kWh, for 15 minutes of use, and costs about $13.46 to use your everyday for a year.
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Average run:15 minutes
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**Wh per use: **1200watts(per 15 minute use) = 300 Wh
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**kWh per use: **300Wh/1000 = 0.3kWh per use
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Cost:0.3 kWh x $0.1229 x 365 = $13.46 per year
An oven, however, takes longer and requires much more energy to get to a high temperature. An oven on medium to high heat uses 2400 watts per hourand astovetop uses 1500 watts per hour on medium to high heat. So even though the cost of a microwave seems high, it’s a quicker and more efficient way to cook if you’re looking to save energy and money.
If you want to reduce the electricitycosts coming from your microwave, make sure you setthe appropriate time and cooking level for yourfood so it’snot running any longer than it needs to.
Takeaways
The cheapest householdproducton ourlist, other than the iPhone, was the washing machine used on a weekly basis. AnEnergy Star washer’s electricity costs came out to just$1.60 per year. The most expensive appliance was the refrigerator, which runs for 24 hours a day, and costs a whopping $193.70 each year.
Overall, unplug, shut down, and refrain fromusing your energy-intensive appliances as much as you can. Your iPhone, luckily, is the least of your worries.
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