How Much Electricity Do My Home Appliances Use?

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Refrigerator, washing machine, microwave and laptop energy use

Wondering why your electricity bill is so high? Customers are typically charged for electricity in cents per kilowatt-hour. Because some appliances consume more kilowatt-hours than others, it’s a good idea to ensure your appliances are energy efficient. To help you understand how much energy your appliances use annually – and the the impact they have on your wallet – take a look at the table below. Get more energy facts about your specific appliances at http://energy.gov.

Appliance	Wattage per hour of use	Annual cost (at average use)
Television (>40”, HD TV)	234	$41.00
Refrigerator	225	$78.84
Washing Machine	255	$9.55
Dryer	2790	$104.46
Air Conditioner (3-Ton)	3500	$460

If you’re trying to cut down the expense of your energy bills, you’ve probably thought about how your daily activities around the house can add to that cost. Beyond shutting off lights and limiting your usage, what are some other ways to use less energy and spend less on electricity?

Here are some quick facts about four appliances that could be contributing to your bill.

1. Washing Machines & Dryers

At eight loads of laundry a week, the average family uses both the washing machine and the dryer six hours each on average per week. Even with some of the more energy efficient models, the combined cost of doing laundry can add up to more than $115 a year for the electricity alone.

If your family is in the market for a new washer and dryer, high-efficiency appliances will use less electricity and run more efficiently—especially if you’re upgrading from an older, top-load set. Dryers use more electricity of the two appliances, so you may also consider air drying clothes when possible to minimize your electricity consumption on laundry day.

To cut down costs even further, washing clothes in cold water will minimize the electricity used to heat the water otherwise needed—according to the EPA, 17% of the average home’s energy bill comes from the energy needed to heat water. So, set your loads to cold water cycles and help minimize hot water usage.

2. Televisions

The average American watches four hours of television a day. Over the span of an entire year, that adds up to over two months of viewing. If you have an HDTV over 40 inches and are tuning in at the same rate as the US average, your television may be using about 341 kWh a year and costing you $41 annually.

If you’re looking into upgrading your television soon, switching to an LCD television can cut the cost of your television’s energy nearly in half; the average LCD TV runs at 150 watts, meaning you could cut your TV’s electricity cost to under $27 a year.

3. Refrigerators

As an appliance in your house that runs all day, every day, the average refrigerator uses an estimated 657 kWh of electricity a year, costing you upwards of $78.84 over 12 months.

Compared to other large household appliances, this cost may be surprising given its heavy use, but maximizing your refrigerator’s efficiency can lower your home electricity usage and add to your energy savings. Keeping your refrigerator set to an optimal temperature between 37 and 40 degrees can ensure your food stays cold enough without making your unit work harder than it has to.

4. Central Air Conditioning

While your air conditioner may vary depending on the size of your home and where you live, a 3-ton central air conditioning unit is common in many homes. The average 3-ton air conditioner operates at around 3500 watts per hour—or 3.5 kWh—while in use. If you ran your A/C unit for nine hours a day during the four warmest months of the year, the electricity needed to cool your home would cost you around $460 annually.

Keep your house at a comfortable temperature while keeping an eye on the energy bill by using the program features available on your thermostat. Be sure your A/C unit is set to switch off during the times of day when you don’t need it.

Conclusion: Bring Down Electricity Costs by Making Changes

While it’s a smart energy consumer practice to be aware of how much energy your appliances use, making some changes to your daily routines can minimize your energy costs. Trying one or more of these recommended energy tips can make a difference on your wallet and the environment.

Interested in other ways to reduce your energy bills? Explore how choosing the right residential electricity plan can help keep your costs down. To learn more about residential electricity rates and how to gain control over your energy bills, visit IGS Energy today.

Check electricity rates in your area.